Judo program benefits many Iqaluit children

I would like to express my concern and outrage at the way the City of Iqaluit is handling the John Howard Society’s bingo application.

I’m writing to support my son and the many other kids who have a right to a judo program.

The City of Iqaluit is putting the judo program sponsored by the John Howard Society in serious jeopardy by denying the society’s bingo application. Part of the revenues generated by the bingos help support the judo programs financially, not to mention the many other programs that help support people in need.

My concern now is that it would appear to me that the City of Iqaluit is contradicting itself and being hypocritical at the same time.

I’ve been reading and listening to the news about the society’s activities and the handling of their finances by the City of Iqaluit. The city questioned their finances and checked to see if everything is done by the book, and the City questioned where the monies are going and how much. It seems to be they are looking for ways to deny the application from going forward.

Now for my outrage at this whole matter. The City says all applicants for bingo licensees must follow bylaw rules set by the City of Iqaluit — then it must be the same for Nevada license applications.

I know for a fact that the Iqaluit Senior Mens Hockey Association has been granted their Nevada license because I see the license stapled at the old arena on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays during senior men’s hockey games.

I guess the association must be receiving revenues from it, right? I guess all the monies from the Nevada sales are being looked after accordingly, right? Well, as a player member, I don’t know for sure. I’ve looked into this carefully. I’ve checked at the legal registrar to see if any audited reports have been handed in, and guess what? There haven’t been any in the last four years.

My outrage is that the City of Iqaluit is contradicting its own bylaws and being hypocritical to one organization that keeps track of its own finances while another association is not being scrutinized for its poor financial record. Why are there double standards for rules governing bingo and Nevada licenses?

You, the City of Iqaluit, should look into this, because it’s not looking good on your part and, in the first place, I would ask yourselves who is responsible and how long this has been going on. You, the City of Iqaluit, are making decisions that could impact a lot of positive programs without looking at all the angles of the matter.

You, the City of Iqaluit, helped me to open my eyes and really see what can occur when unchecked for a number of years. I’m not happy that you, the City of Iqaluit, might force me and many other parents to tell our sons or daughters that there will be no more judo lessons because there is not enough money to fund the program due to a decision to cancel the bingo license.

All the people who buy bingo cards are actually helping little kids get off the streets and into judo, along with other programs that help other people in need.

It will be a sad day if that decision is made to cancel the bingo license, because the only people who will be hurt is little kids who won’t be able to go to judo lessons and people receiving charitable help from the John Howard Society.

Sylvain Degrasse
Iqaluit