LOWER SACKVILLE: Families involved in minor hockey and other community sports can continue using individual fundraising credits from charitable 50/50 lotteries to help pay their children’s registration fees, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Service Nova Scotia says.
Minister Jill Balser spoke with The Laker News on Thursday afternoon, November 12, following concerns raised by minor hockey families and associations over what appeared to be a change in provincial lottery policy.
Balser said the province is clarifying its policy to reflect practices that have already been taking place within sports associations, confirming that fundraising support provided to individual players and families remains permitted.
“Current practices to support families and players in sport on an individual level is permitted under our policy,” Balser told The Laker News.
The clarification comes after confusion surrounding information circulated to provincial and local sports associations about the rules governing charitable lottery fundraising and how proceeds could be used.
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The issue gained attention after Sackville Minor Hockey Association (SMHA) president Rob Nurnber issued a statement on November 11 outlining what the association understood to be changes to the province’s lottery licensing requirements.
In its statement, posted on the association’s website, SMHA said it had been advised that proceeds from individual players’ 50/50 ticket sales could no longer be allocated toward that player’s fundraising requirements, with unused amounts also no longer being carried forward as personal fundraising balances.
Instead, the association said the updated policy required lottery proceeds to benefit the organization as a whole or support sport at the community level, with money going toward eligible team budgets and association-wide expenses. Sackville Minor Hockey Association
SMHA also directed all teams, players, parents and volunteers to temporarily stop selling Flyers 50/50 tickets until an approved lottery licence was posted on its website.
The association said the change could have a significant impact on families, noting that 50/50 fundraising helps make the cost of minor hockey more manageable and, in some cases, makes participation possible.
SMHA said it was reviewing its fundraising structure and financial procedures while seeking clarification from provincial officials.
Balser said individual assistance remains permitted.
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During Thursday’s interview, Balser acknowledged the concerns and said the province recognized that communication surrounding the policy had created confusion among sports organizations and families.
She said the intention of the policy update was to reflect practices already taking place within associations, rather than take away an important fundraising option for families.
“We apologize if that communication didn’t come across in the way that it was intended, and that might have caused some of the confusion of what’s allowed and what’s not,” Balser said.
She stressed that individual support for players and families, including help paying registration fees, is permitted under the current policy.
Balser said some hockey associations had specifically raised concerns about whether families would still be able to use fundraising proceeds toward registration or whether the money would have to be directed toward other expenses, such as ice time.
She said those practices had always been permitted, provided the organization’s fundraising efforts aligned with its charitable purpose.
“We know that there is an opportunity to clarify,” Balser said. “And so where the current practice of supporting individuals to be able to pay for their registration has been happening, our current policy will reflect that, to allow that to continue.”
The minister also acknowledged that the timing and communication of the information, particularly leading into the start of the sporting season and registration, had caused unnecessary worry.
She apologized for the confusion, saying the government had since had opportunities to meet with sports associations and individuals to better understand how their fundraising programs operate.
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Balser said the province recognizes the importance of community sports organizations and the role charitable lotteries play in helping people participate.
“We see the value and we know the value of these organizations and what these charitable lotteries can do for communities,” she said.
What happens next for Sackville Minor Hockey?
While the minister’s clarification provides reassurance that individual financial assistance for registration remains permitted, Sackville Minor Hockey had indicated it was still awaiting further direction from Service Nova Scotia regarding its lottery licence and fundraising structure.
The association’s next steps include reviewing how its monthly Flyers 50/50 draws are administered to ensure they meet the provincial requirements.
SMHA has operated its 50/50 fundraiser since 2016, making it an important part of its fundraising efforts.
