Ontario First Nation says province violated agreements in opening Pickering Casino

Good news for the City of Pickering, which pocketed nearly $3.8 million in third-quarter hosting revenue for Pickering Casino & Resort, is not being celebrated on the nearby Scugog Island First Nation which continues to express “deep concern and frustration” for what it describes as “violations” of legally binding revenue-sharing agreements by the province.

“The revenue that Pickering and iGaming generate for the Province of Ontario comes at the direct expense of MSIFN and economic reconciliation,” said Chief Kelly LaRocca. “Gaming revenue allows MSIFN to build infrastructure, fund essential public services, and contribute to the local economy. Instead of supporting Indigenous self-governance and reconciliation, the government has chosen to empower national and international corporations to profit at the expense of public good.”

Pickering has earned Pickering has earned nearly $69 million in casino revenue to spend on local projects since the casino opened in July 2021 against the wishes of the First Nation and in breach of an agreement signed by MSIFN and Queen’s Park.

Despite those agreements, noted LaRocca, Ontario moved ahead with the construction of the Pickering Casino and the introduction of iGaming – “without the support of the public or regard for its impact” on the First Nation.

A Canada Pulse Insights poll commissioned by MSIFN found that half of respondents believe Durham Region already has too many casinos and nearly one in five respondents (19 per cent) said they stopped visiting the Great Blue Heron Casino after the Pickering facility opened – a figure that climbs to 31 per cent in Scugog.

The ongoing legal proceedings between MSIFN and the provincial government have placed a heavy burden on the First Nation and Ontario taxpayers alike, LaRocca added. “The legal argument is clear. The unfairness is clear. The public opinion is clear.”

“Yet the province continues to fight us. We are asking for fairness, not a fight – but we will not back down.”

Durham Region’s three casino hosts welcomed more than $5.5 million into their bank accounts this week as the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) made its second quarter payouts to the host communities.

The City of Pickering, which hosts the Pickering Casino Resort – by far the largest casino in the region – earned the biggest payout for the July 1 to September 30 period and has earned more than $9.2 million this year.

The Town of Ajax, home of the Ajax Casino (and quarter-horse racetrack) earned a payout of just over $1 million for the third quarter. So far this fiscal year the town has received $2,147,674.

The Scugog Island First Nation, which hosts the Great Blue Heron Casino, received $682,605. The First Nation has earned $1,340,365 in the fiscal year so far.

These payments to host communities are based on a formula in the Municipality Contribution Agreement that is consistently applied across all land-based casino sites in Ontario using a graduated scale of gaming revenue at the hosted site.