talk is cheap by Tatum Bergen
PHOTO: ISTOCK
RECONCILE THIS:
Ontario government and the PM, Tofino Trudeau, cut Indigenous people out of gaming industry. The Shawanaga First Nation called upon the Ontario Government to honour the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation by immediately pausing the changes to gaming regulations in Ontario
I
n the age of reconciliation, the Government of Ontario stands at an impasse: economic discrimination or proactive reconciliation.
for the province, the private gaming sector, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), and First Nations communities.
This June, iGaming became legal in Canada. The Bill C-218 amendment to the Criminal Code decriminalized “single-event sports betting”– allowing Canadians to gamble on sports teams in a single game.
The OLG, a crown agency, already launched its online platform on August 27, 2021. According to Casino Reports, the PROLINE+ launch reported $1 million in revenue within the first week and accumulated over $6 million in betting volume since the launch. These staggering profits are from one platform alone.
For Canadians, this is good news. The industry provides a significant source of revenue for Canadians, generating an estimated $14 billion per year. The $14 billion previously spent illegally on iGaming went through offshore servers and landed in the hands of organized crime, fueling drugs and guns. Legalizing online gambling directs the revenue back into the Canadian economy, providing jobs and opportunities for businesses while allowing for regulation, customer protection, and support for those struggling with addiction. Ontarians alone spend $1 billion on online gambling per year, 70 per cent going to unregulated sites. Federal legalization is the dawn of Ontario’s booming iGaming industry. It is a substantial economic opportunity
“
saying the essential aspect is the impact on Indigenous communities: “It is…my understanding that there are likely other Indigenous governments that have expressed an interest in more direct management and betting. We have a responsibility to Indigenous peoples and communities on these important issues and how this industry may impact and benefit Indigenous peoples and communities.” Despite this, Ontario left Indigenous peoples out of the equation. The struggle between the Ontario gaming industry and First Nations dates to the 1980s and as recently as September 1, 2021.
The Ontario Government failed to consult and accommodate the Shawanaga First Nation’s interest in the iGaming industry. Ontario did not give them prior and informed consent of the changes made by the legalization to the provincial gaming industry.
”
Over the decades, casinos and the gambling industry have been a reliable source of income for First Nations, contributing to communities and economic development. In the House Debate over legalization, Hon. Anita Vandenbeld urged the Government,
The Shawanaga First Nation issued a press release on September 27, 2021 stating the Ontario Government failed to consult and accommodate the Shawanaga First Nation’s interest in the iGaming industry. Ontario did not give them prior and informed consent of the changes made by the legalization to the provincial gaming industry. Ontario publicly stated that they would engage with the Ontario First Nations Limited Partnership (OFNLP2008) about sharing iGaming revenue. They said they welcomed Indigenous perspectives in designing and 23 OTTAWALIFE FALL 2021
