Province, First Nations extend gambling deal

SASKATOON First Nations and the Saskatchewan government have renewed their gaming framework agreement, extending it to 2037, 10 years beyond the original 2002 agreement’s 25-year end date.

Chiefs in assembly gave the goahead last week for the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) to sign the extended agreement, which they’d sought to provide stability for casino operators arranging financing for projects, such as the new casino being built in Lloydminster, said Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of the Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN).

The agreement’s extended time frame is “some progress” for First Nations but it failed to meet their long-held desire to eliminate, or at least reduce, the 25 per cent of profits it provides to the province.

“The 10-year extension, that’s the only progress. It’s not much. We were anticipating a lot more, like we always have. Either the whole 25 per cent back or we kick it down to 15 per cent so we can invest in our communities,” Cameron said. “I feel frustrated.”

First Nations have built a thriving economy at six on-reserve casinos that employ almost 1,900 people and earn about $80 million in profits each year.

The original 2002 Gaming Framework Agreement saw First Nations casino operators agree to share the wealth with Saskatchewan’s 74 First Nations, the province and the communities where they are located.

The original agreement had 37.5 per cent of profits going to the province, a figure that was later reduced to 25 per cent.

Two non-First Nations casinos in Regina and Moose Jaw share 25 per cent of their profits with First Nations, but their consistently lower revenues of $65 million result in a net profit to the province.

Cameron says it isn’t fair for the province to take a chunk of the earnings from First Nations businesses operated on their own land. He compares it to Saskatchewan Crown corporations that don’t pay anything to First Nations.

“The province says no special group will receive revenue sharing, yet they’re more than happy to take $20 million from our SIGA revenues. This is First Nation business, First Nation created. We don’t expect or demand anything from SaskTel, SaskEnergy or SaskPower and each of those corporations generates billions of dollars on our First Nations year after year,” he said.