Summary#
Bill 10 would change New Brunswick’s rules for some lottery licences held by charitable or religious organizations. It would cover licences issued under either of two federal Criminal Code provisions, allow some records to be kept outside New Brunswick, and require certain lottery proceeds to be used in the province.
The bill was introduced but the source material does not show that it became law.
- Licence applications would have to use a form provided by the Registrar.
- The licensing rules would apply to organizations applying under either of the specified Criminal Code provisions.
- Organizations licensed under one of those provisions could ask to keep their records outside New Brunswick.
- The Registrar could approve that arrangement and impose conditions.
- Organizations licensed under that provision would have to use net proceeds from tickets sold in New Brunswick for charitable or religious purposes within the province.
- The bill would define net proceeds as ticket revenue minus approved administrative costs and prize costs.
- The bill would start on a date set by proclamation (a formal government order).
What it means for you#
- Charitable and religious organizations: Organizations applying for or renewing certain lottery licences would need to use the Registrar’s application form.
- Organizations with records outside New Brunswick: A licensee whose licence is issued or renewed under the specified federal provision could ask to keep its lottery records outside the province. Approval would not be automatic. The Registrar could set conditions.
- Organizations selling lottery tickets in New Brunswick: For licences covered by the bill, net proceeds from tickets sold in the province would have to be used for charitable or religious purposes within New Brunswick. The detailed requirements would be set by regulation.
- Ticket buyers: The bill does not change the price of tickets, the prizes, or who may buy them. It could affect how money raised from tickets sold in New Brunswick is spent.
- The public: The bill mainly affects licensing, record keeping, and the use of lottery proceeds. It does not directly create a new public service or benefit for individuals.
- Timing: The bill would not take effect until the government sets a start date by proclamation.
Expenses#
No direct public cost is identified in the available material.
- Organizations may face administrative costs from using the required application form and meeting any conditions for keeping records outside the province.
- Organizations may face limits on how they use net proceeds from tickets sold in New Brunswick.
- The bill allows administrative expenses approved by the Registrar, and prize costs, to be deducted when calculating net proceeds.
- The bill does not provide an estimate of government staffing, enforcement, technology, or other administrative costs.
- The bill does not identify new fees, fines, or penalties.
- No publicly available information is provided about the financial effect on affected organizations or the government.
Proponents' View#
The source material does not include statements from supporters. Possible arguments based on the bill’s text include:
- The bill could make the licensing process clearer by requiring a standard form supplied by the Registrar.
- Allowing some records to be kept outside New Brunswick could make administration easier for organizations that operate in more than one province.
- The Registrar’s ability to set conditions could help maintain oversight of records kept outside the province.
- Requiring net proceeds from New Brunswick ticket sales to support charitable or religious purposes within the province could direct lottery-funded benefits to local activities.
- Defining net proceeds could provide a clear basis for deciding how much money must be used for those purposes.
Opponents' View#
The source material does not include statements from critics. Possible concerns based on the bill’s design include:
- Organizations could face additional administrative work if they must change their application process or meet conditions for records kept outside New Brunswick.
- Allowing records to be kept outside the province may make access, review, or enforcement more difficult, depending on the conditions set by the Registrar.
- The bill leaves important details to future regulations, including how the required use of proceeds would work.
- The bill does not clearly explain how the province would monitor money raised from ticket sales in New Brunswick and used for purposes within the province.
- Organizations that operate across provincial borders may have less flexibility in sharing or directing lottery proceeds.
- It is unclear whether the bill would change existing licensing practices, because the source material does not explain how the current rules are applied in practice.