EDMONTON – The Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary was established to help support veterans, but some say the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission is keeping it from doing just that.
The Ladies Auxiliary of the Strathcona Legion branch wants to donate $10,000 it raised through bingo events to the Veterans Villa in south Edmonton.
“These people are veterans. They count for us. We should be able to give them all of our money if we wanted to simply because they are veterans and that’s where the legions came from,” says Linda Trewin of the Ladies Auxiliary, Strathcona branch.
The Southgate Veterans Villa has been housing veterans and their families for more than 40 years, and it’s now in need of some upgrades.
“I have a very big wish list but I have to take it very slow because there is no money,” says Iris Wall, the manager of Veterans Villa.
The elevator in the south Edmonton facility is a first priority. Maintenance and a retrofit will cost $200,000. Also on the list: a roof replacement.
“We don’t have that kind of money and that’s why we are looking for donations,” explains Wall.
“$10,000 would really help.”
However, the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) has refused to approve it, saying the Veterans Villa doesn’t meet the criteria for receiving charitable gaming proceeds.
In a letter, the AGLC states proceeds may be used if the facility is accessible to the general public at least 50 per cent of the time.
“Overall, the main element that drives the policy is the idea that Gaming proceeds may be used to support groups that deliver a program which provides a community benefit (not individual),” says a spokesperson for the AGLC in a response to Global News.
Residential living areas, supported by individuals who pay rent, are not considered an eligible use of gaming proceeds.
“We are not a business,” argues Wall. “We are actually a nonprofit public company and we’ve always been that.”
While the AGLC wouldn’t comment on the specific case, it says certain charitable criteria must be met.
“To ensure that there’s integrity in the use of those proceeds,” explains the AGLC’s Sandra Froehlich, “for public use, not for private use, not for residential use.”
Veterans and supporters are shocked, and they feel the Veterans Villa should be allowed to receive the money.
“They have special cases,” says Tom Quigley with the Royal Canadian Legion. “I don’t know why they made kind of a blanket dismissal of us. I think this place is a special case.”
“They need this place,” stresses Trewin. “We need to have more of these places in every city because without them we would have nothing.”
Doug Horner, Alberta’s finance minister, overseas gaming in the province. Monday, he said he was open to discussing the issue.
“Always open to whatever the needs are for our veterans,” he said. “I have been vocal in that respect. So I’m more than happy to sit down and talk with the group about where they think we might want to change the rules or regulations.”
Quigley remains hopeful that the benefit the Villa provides veterans will be acknowledged.
“Now, you hear more now, word from the mayor, the importance of providing for seniors, those of lower income, and the provincial government pretty much gets on the same tone, and I think a facility such as this does an excellent job of that.”
Charitable Gaming Policies Handbook
With files from Julie Matthews
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