First Nation Outraged by OLG’s New Toronto Casino – Casino Reports

Relations between the Mississaugas of the Scugog Island First Nation and the Province of Ontario have soured. The First Nation is outraged by Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s decision to open a brand new billion dollar casino in the greater Toronto area. There are also plans to take further action and mediate with the local government.

It should be noted that MSIFN, which owns Great Blue Heron Casino, settled with the Supreme Court in 2016 on terms to ensure the casino would operate in a manner comparable to other state-owned casinos in the GTA. Her proceeds would be made available to the First Nation to support their development and services such as providing safe drinking water.

No without consultation

In a press release, the First Nation noted that it had reached agreements with the Higher Regional Court and the government with a common understanding that the two will act in good faith and in accordance with contractual obligations. Chief Kelly LaRocca stated that the government is once again acting without consultation, putting the nation’s Great Blue Heron casino at a disadvantage.

She said the tribe had been talking to local government and the High Court about the matter for years and they finally got to the point mediation occur in the following months. The attorney noted that the Ford government again chose to appeal its decision and later ask questions in a total disregard for the First Nation and the honor of the Crown.

OLG’s new casino would be located adjacent to Toronto’s Woodbine Racetrack and would be titled “Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto” as it would be operated by Great Canadian Gaming. It was announced this week that it will open in the summer of 2023 and will feature a spacious casino floor, a hotel, an entertainment center, a new parking garage and more.

Ms. LaRocca continued by saying the First Nation will refocus on their good faith efforts on mediation and will prepare for whatever comes next in line. Mediation between the Ontario provincial government and MSIFN regarding the province’s actions to date is expected to begin this summer.

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The relationship between the First Nation and local government has been tenuous for a time due to the opening of OLG’s Pickering Casino Resort in July 2021. Shortly after the opening of the new casino The Nation claims that was the new property a breach of the negotiated agreement for gambling in the greater Toronto area and has repeatedly reminded the government of this issue.

At the time, MSIFN alleged that the Ford government approved an ordinance allowing the launch of the Picker Casino Resort, in violation of the government’s agreement with the First Nation. The tribe’s casino and Pickering’s are about 50 kilometers apart. Ms. LaRocca claimed that the province changed the Ontario game map to align with its own agenda.

Source: “First Nation appalled by announcement of new mega-casino in Toronto” PR NewswireMarch 9, 2023