An organization representing amateur sports in the Yukon is decrying “major cuts” to sport and recreation funding by Lotteries Yukon, and asking the territorial government to fill the gap.

The government, however, says it doesn’t have the money to do that — and that it intends to take a closer look at how the lottery commission has been handing out money in recent years.

Lotteries Yukon is an agent of the territorial government that reinvests lottery ticket sale revenue into sports, arts, and recreation projects. Last month, it sent an email to people who have received money through its travel assistance fund, to let them know about cuts to the fund, which helps non-profit groups and extracurricular school groups travel to competitions and other events.

The email cites a “gradual but steady reduction in revenue from [lottery] ticket sales” over the last few years, meaning there’s less money to distribute. It also says demand for funding has grown.

“To ensure our funding remains sustainable and accessible to all in the future, we are re-evaluating the levels of funding we are able to provide,” the email states.

Among the changes cited by Lotteries Yukon is a reduction in the amount provided under the travel assistance program, from $400 to $200 for a trip outside the territory. There are also changes to the sort of trips eligible for funding under the program. The changes came into effect on April 1.

In a letter to the territorial government on Tuesday, Sport Yukon — a non-governmental organization that promotes and supports local sports groups — says the cuts “will cause significant harm to Yukon sport organizations.”

It says Lotteries Yukon is the primary source of funding for sport and recreation in the territory and that the cuts are “unjust and not acceptable.”

“To leave not-for-profit sport organizations holding the bag for the financial woes of Lotteries Yukon is imprudent and will cause tremendous damage to an already fragile ecosystem that cannot bear this decrease in funding in any sense,” the letter reads.

‘Concerning trend’ at Yukon Lottery Commission, premier says

Sport Yukon is asking the Yukon government to cover the Lotteries Yukon budget shortfall “in the short term,” so that community organizations don’t suffer.

Asked about that in the legislature on Wednesday, Premier Currie Dixon quickly shot the idea down.

“The simple answer is no. We don’t have the fiscal capacity to do that,” he said.

Dixon put the blame squarely on the Yukon Lottery Commission, saying it has a spending problem that goes beyond the decline in lottery ticket sales. He said the agency has been handing out millions more than it brings in over the last couple of years.

“We’ve been aware of the concerning trend with the Yukon Lottery Commission spending for some time,” he said.

He cited things like a concert series, the Whitehorse climbing gym and Polarettes gymnastics facility as projects that could warrant further scrutiny.

“Those are popular things, but they cost a lot of money and we have to look into how that decision-making was undertaken,” he said.

Dixon said his government will look into the lottery commission’s finances and “if we need to make changes, we’re willing to make those changes.”

Cory Bellmore, the minister responsible for the lottery commission, told the legislature that the agency’s total revenues in 2024-25 were just over $4 million, while its expenditures were over $6 million. The following year, revenues were about $4.3 million, while expenditures were $7.8 million.

She said it’s important to “correct the trajectory,” by reducing expenses at the lottery commission. That includes making single-year funding agreements with community organizations, rather than multi-year agreements, she said.

“It is time to bring that back in line so that we can make sure the longevity of this fund for future Yukoners and future programs,” Bellmore said.