First Nations Gaming Deal Renewed
The Ontario Provincial Government is set to sign an agreement with Ontario’s aboriginal communities today that will extend their revenue sharing program. This will extend a five-year deal that was originally signed in 2001 and was set so expire this summer. Currently Ontario’s 134 First nations communities share the revues from Casino Rama, which is located near Orillia just north of Toronto.
Last year First Nations was in talk with the Ontario government that would have given them a share from all provincial gambling locations. This new deal still leaves this option open, which is good for First Nation communities, but is likely to create more legal battles. The Mnjikaning First Nation is still happy with the arrangement. They are still in a litigation battle because they feel like they are entitled to 35% of the net Casino Rama revenues because it is located on their land.
The casino has brought in approximately $1 billion in net revenues since its opening in 1996. This new deal aims to continue to provide a stable source of funding for the community and will be filtered into cultural and economic development as well as health and education. In addition, it provides many jobs for First Nations people, in fact it is one of the largest such employers in Canada.
Casino Rama is central Ontario’s most popular tourist destinations, drawing 12,000 patrons daily. It has 2,400 slot machines, 120 tables games, a poker room, luxury hotel, and numerous restaurants.
It is good that a deal has been reached that on a whole will benefit the First Nations people. Unfortunately the legal battles will continue as long as people feel slighted and huge sums of money are involved.
Article by Angela Ford