TORONTO -- Nunavut鈥檚 family services minister is promising to review the territory鈥檚 income assistance program after she said she was 鈥渟urprised鈥� to learn that recipients receive less money from the government if they win at bingo or other lotteries.
During questioning in the legislative assembly on Monday, Elisapee Sheutiapik addressed the Income Assistance Program, which provides financial support to those in need.
鈥淲hen I heard about the bingo winnings and the $40, I gave directions to my staff to look into the legislation,鈥� she told the House, according to an official transcript of the proceedings.
The $40 she referenced was in relation to an example provided by Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet MLA Cathy Towtongie, who said she learned of a case in which an individual鈥檚 income assistance was reduced because they won $40 at bingo.
鈥淚 was amazed by the regulations,鈥� Towtongie said. 鈥淪ome clients win $40 and that $40 is investigated. In Nunavut $40 cannot buy anything. Maybe it can buy a bit of Pampers and toilet paper. That鈥檚 about it.鈥�
Towtongie said money won at bingo and other lotteries can give individuals with low incomes the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families by buying items such as snow machines or hunting and fishing equipment they wouldn鈥檛 otherwise be able to afford.
鈥淲e all need hope and a bingo win is a sign that good things can happen and it can help them buy big items,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e should be able to enjoy our windfall instead of receiving it with one hand and then having money taken out of the other hand.鈥�
When pressed by Towtongie about the legislation, Sheutiapik said her staff is reviewing the matter and she doesn鈥檛 have a timeline for any changes to it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not easy to change legislation. Policy would have been one thing, but it鈥檚 in the legislation,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚 gave directions to my staff to look into the legislation, but we know in this House that there are many legislations. I can鈥檛 say when that legislation will actually be amended.鈥�
Towtongie then asked if the minister would commit to changing the Income Assistance Program to ensure that bingo and other lottery winnings would not be considered income in the future.
鈥淭he legislation itself has to be changed,鈥� Sheutiapik replied. 鈥淢y goodness, if I started running my department or our government on just giving direction and put aside legislation, we wouldn鈥檛 be running properly.鈥�
CTVNews.ca has reached out to Sheutiapik about the legislation.
