FSIN Looking for Better Gaming Agreement

FSIN Looking for Better Gaming Agreement

Wednesday, December 15, 2004 at 14:49

The gaming agreement that currently exists between the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and the provincial government was a topic of conversation yesterday at the FSIN’s assembly in Saskatoon.

The government has called for profits generated by the newly-announced casino in Swift Current to remain in trust while the provincial auditor makes sure everything is in order.

Federation chief Alphonse Bird says this stipulation is clearly a one-sided arrangement in favour of the government, and he wonders if the province would be just as willing to allow First Nations a look at how it spends its share of money from the casinos.

The FSIN passed a resolution yesterday calling for the provincial auditor to attend the federation’s next legislative assembly early next year — something Fred Wendel is apparently willing to do.

Bird says ultimately the FSIN wants a different agreement altogether — one that won’t require provincial monitoring to remain legal.