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gambling in alberta - Research Services - University of Lethbridge

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The fire department also represents the political freedom associated with a successful cas<strong>in</strong>o<br />

project. City <strong>of</strong> Calgary <strong>of</strong>ficials <strong>in</strong> 2007 <strong>in</strong>formed band <strong>of</strong>ficials that they did not have the<br />

manpower and equipment to guarantee service to the cas<strong>in</strong>o, and that any such agreement<br />

with the Tsuu T’<strong>in</strong>a would be on a cost-recovery basis. City <strong>of</strong>ficials concluded that fire service<br />

for the cas<strong>in</strong>o would cost $2.6 million a year (Calgary Herald, 2008). Rather than pay this fee,<br />

the Tsuu T’<strong>in</strong>a applied FNDF fund<strong>in</strong>g to develop their own fire service.<br />

Gambl<strong>in</strong>g revenue may have also allowed the Tsuu T’<strong>in</strong>a to resist pressure to sell some reserve<br />

land to Calgary for $275 million to allow Calgary to complete a r<strong>in</strong>g road around the city. The<br />

Tsuu T’<strong>in</strong>a <strong>in</strong>dicated a will<strong>in</strong>gness to negotiate access, on the condition that they controlled the<br />

road and its parallel development, a demand Calgary <strong>of</strong>ficials refused. The negotiations<br />

reached their nadir <strong>in</strong> July 2009, when 60% <strong>of</strong> Tsuu T’<strong>in</strong>a voters cast ballots oppos<strong>in</strong>g land sale<br />

for r<strong>in</strong>g road expansion. F<strong>in</strong>ancial freedom <strong>in</strong> this <strong>in</strong>stance led to political agency, and the<br />

ability to self-govern notwithstand<strong>in</strong>g outside political pressure.<br />

The First Nation added 4 additional police <strong>of</strong>ficers, and the Tsuu T’<strong>in</strong>a Police Service has<br />

established good work<strong>in</strong>g relationships with neighbour<strong>in</strong>g police services. There has been a<br />

limited volume <strong>of</strong> cas<strong>in</strong>o calls thus enabl<strong>in</strong>g the police to spend greater time servic<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

community. There is local pride <strong>in</strong> a police service that <strong>in</strong> 2009 became only one <strong>of</strong> five<br />

prov<strong>in</strong>cial police services to achieve 100% compliance with the Alberta Prov<strong>in</strong>cial Polic<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Standards. Officials reported few crim<strong>in</strong>al <strong>in</strong>cidences related to the cas<strong>in</strong>o. The ma<strong>in</strong> concerns<br />

are related to the potential for dr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g and driv<strong>in</strong>g. Also, few band members patronize the<br />

cas<strong>in</strong>o: most customers are from Calgary and return to the city after leav<strong>in</strong>g the cas<strong>in</strong>o.<br />

Although it has yet to impact the community, cas<strong>in</strong>o managers and the Tsuu T’<strong>in</strong>a police are<br />

aware <strong>of</strong> street level gang activity that is anticipated to eventually penetrate the reserve<br />

through the cas<strong>in</strong>o. They have also encountered outlaw motorcycle gangs on the reserve.<br />

There is no hous<strong>in</strong>g nearby the cas<strong>in</strong>o for reserve residents, who make up a m<strong>in</strong>or portion <strong>of</strong><br />

the patrons and a significant employee complement.<br />

Anticipated Impacts<br />

Stoney: Stoney Nakoda Resort<br />

The patronage for the Stoney Nakoda Resort was anticipated to come from the roughly 18,000<br />

cars that pass by the cas<strong>in</strong>o on a daily basis travell<strong>in</strong>g on the Trans-Canada Highway. The $27<br />

million cas<strong>in</strong>o and hotel resort was expected to employ 200, <strong>of</strong> which 40% were to be First<br />

Nations (CBC News, 2008). At the time <strong>of</strong> the cas<strong>in</strong>o open<strong>in</strong>g, the reserve had an 80%<br />

unemployment rate (Rem<strong>in</strong>gton, 2008). The bulk <strong>of</strong> <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> revenues were slated for<br />

hous<strong>in</strong>g, social services, and education programs. The cas<strong>in</strong>o was expected to draw upwards <strong>of</strong><br />

400,000 visitors while generat<strong>in</strong>g approximately $23.8 million <strong>in</strong> net revenues the first year to<br />

the small community <strong>of</strong> 4,000 liv<strong>in</strong>g on the Morley, Rabbit Lake, Eden Valley, and Big Horn<br />

247

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