Chiefs back new Lloydminster casino
After some debate, Saskatchewan chiefs voted in favour of the creation of a new casino to be located in Lloydminster.
On Monday, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) hosted a special assembly to discuss whether or not to amend its current gaming agreement to include a seventh casino, which would fall under the jurisdiction of the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority. FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said there is room for another casino in the province based on market studies done by SIGA.
“The market is there,” he said. “The potential is there to make millions of dollars and create jobs.”
He said if there was no room for another casino in the province, that would have been identified and there would be no need to host a special assembly.
Jim Reiter, provincial minister of government relations and the minister responsible for First Nations and Metis Relations, said the announcement of the new casino was a good day for the province and for First Nations.
“This is something we have worked on for a long time,” he said. “Chief Cameron has raised this issue with me over the last number of months.”
Reiter said that although the generation of casino revenue is a good thing, it is not the only thing the government is doing to help improve the lives of First Nations people.
“We need economic development right across the province, including for First Nations,” he said. “We have made education the bedrock of that and we have made great strides in that direction. We need to be moving on all fronts not just gaming.”
He said the new casino highlights the continued partnership between the province and First Nations.
Cameron indicated this casino does not mark the end of FSIN's discussions with the province.
Next year, the province and FSIN are set to negotiate their current gaming agreement.
SIGA currently provides the province with 25 per cent of its revenue each year, which works out to about $20 million.
“We want to give them zero,” Cameron said.
Cameron said that $20 million of additional revenue will go a long way to improving the lives of all First Nations in the province.
The Border Tribal Council is the host of the newest casino.