Gaming money for First Nations

A proposed change to the Gaming Control Act would provide a stable, long-term source of revenue for B.C. First Nations, the provincial government announced Tuesday.

If passed, the Gaming Control Amendment Act will give B.C. First Nations seven per cent of B.C. Lottery Corp. net income for 23 years.

The amendment will allow the B.C. government to finalize a longterm deal to share approximately $100 million per year from gambling revenue with eligible First Nations, resulting in about $3 billion in revenues shared by 2045.

Gambling revenue funds are received, managed and distributed by the B.C. First Nations Gaming Revenue Sharing Limited Partnership and all B.C. First Nations communities are eligible to become members in the limited partnership.

While direct distribution of these funds to individuals isn’t permitted, the revenue may be used in six areas:

Health and wellness.

■

Infrastructure, safety, transportation

■ and housing.

Economic and business development.

■

Education, language, culture and

■ training.

Community development and

■ environmental protection.

Capacity building, fiscal management

■ and governance.

Tuesday’s announcement follows an interim deal from earlier this fall in which the province shared $194.84 million with First Nations to cover the first two years of this 25-year commitment and ensure there was no delay in funding while legislation was introduced.