Ontario’s provincial authorities has agreed to enter into mediation with the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation (MSFIN), Durham Area Information reviews.
The tribe is incensed that the federal government has approved gaming enlargement inside placing distance of its Nice Blue Heron On line casino with out session. MSFIN says the federal government’s actions violate Part 35 of Canada’s Structure Act, which addresses indigenous rights.
In a press release, the Nation mentioned it has “repeatedly warned the federal government about violations of negotiated agreements and former commitments associated to gaming within the Better Toronto Space.”
MSFIN is searching for reduction for “claims of settlement violations, dangerous religion negotiations, and failures to supply session associated to gaming.”
Damaged Agreements
The Nation’s on line casino is predicated on its reservation close to Lake Scucog in Durham Area, 90 miles northeast of Toronto. In July 2021, forty miles away, the Pickering On line casino Resort opened its doorways at Durham Reside, a sprawling leisure district in Pickering that’s nonetheless partly below building.
Curiously, contemplating MSFIN’s objections, the Pickering On line casino is owned and operated by Nice Canadian Gaming, which additionally operates the Nice Blue Heron on behalf of the Nation.
MSFIN has referred to as out Ontario Premier Doug Ford (Progressive Conservative), who it says has damaged an settlement with the earlier administration to restrict the variety of casinos in Durham Area.
With none method of discover to MSIFN, the Ford authorities handed rules to permit the Pickering On line casino Resort to function in breach of the federal government’s commitments with MSIFN to not function any new on line casino within the [Greater Toronto area] inside shut proximity [to] MSIFN’s Nice Blue Heron On line casino,” mentioned the assertion.
“The Pickering on line casino’s opening is yet one more obvious instance of Premier Ford’s willingness to tread over signed agreements for political ends. This authorities has rewritten the Ontario gaming map to go well with its personal agenda,” added MSIFN Chief Kelly LaRocca.
‘Slap within the Face’
The Nation can be indignant in regards to the enlargement of operations on the Ajax Downs racetrack and Woodbine On line casino in Toronto, in addition to the province’s’ current choice to liberalize and regulate on-line gaming.
In February, the tribe referred to as the brand new digital gaming market a “slap within the face” to Ontario’s First Nations, that “reduces… guarantees of reconciliation to a joke.”
However LaRocca mentioned this week the Nation trusted within the mediation course of, and seemed ahead to addressing “longstanding points.”