Gambling news from http://www.cbc.ca/
Manitoba is prepared to share millions of dollars in lottery profits with the province's First Nations, CBC News has learned.
The province has agreed in principle to hand over control of all on-reserve gaming to a new First Nations gaming authority.
As well, in a surprising move, the province is offering First Nations a cut of all lottery commission profits, including money from video lottery terminals in bars across the province and from Winnipeg's two casinos.
Chief Dennis Meeches of the Long Plain First Nation presented details of a preliminary agreement to the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) annual meeting at Opaskwayak Cree Nation, near The Pas, Man., Wednesday.
The agreement would give First Nations $20 million of lottery profits over five years.
"It's a big industry and so we need to recapture some of that," said Meeches, who sits on the province's joint gaming steering committee.
"The province, I think, they've been made to understand the big picture as it relates to what's happening in our First Nation communities."
But Chief Ovide Mercredi of the Grand Rapids First Nation told his AMC colleagues that $20 million was not enough.
"How much economic development can you achieve in $20 million for some 69 communities?" he said.
'Very groundbreaking'
The proposed native gaming authority, to be called the First Nations Gaming Corp., would oversee bingos, VLTs and the two on-reserve casinos.
Meeches explained to the chiefs the corporation would replace Manitoba Lotteries as a regulatory body in First Nations communities. He said the level of control involved would be greater than what First Nations have achieved anywhere else in Canada.
"It's very groundbreaking to have conduct and management and control over our gaming activities on our reserves," Meeches said. "[It] is I think a huge, huge opportunity for us."
Dave Chomiak, the minister responsible for the Gaming Control Act, told CBC News on Thursday that the province is keeping a commitment to First Nations by offering them a share of general lotteries profits.
That commitment originated from a report on First Nations gaming policy known as the Bostrom Report.
"The Bostrom Report that came out in 1997 recommended five First Nations casinos, and First Nations only ended up with two," Chomiak said. "There's been ongoing discussions since then as to how you reconcile the fact there was recommendations for five and you only ended up with two."
Chomiak said the province will also decide if another native-owned casino should be licenced. If it decides not to licence one, documents provided to AMC chiefs and obtained by CBC indicate the province may top up the $20-million fund.
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