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gambling in alberta - Research Services - University of Lethbridge

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A four-pillar approach to community development had been adopted: (1) hous<strong>in</strong>g and<br />

<strong>in</strong>frastructure; (2) the elders; (3) health and education; and, (4) all other projects. Orig<strong>in</strong>ally<br />

believed to need more than 175 employees, this number rose to more than 200 with a total<br />

payroll <strong>of</strong> $7.4 million (Whitecourt Star, 2008). The hope was that 70% <strong>of</strong> employees would be<br />

Aborig<strong>in</strong>al. Local employees and subcontractors were utilized where possible and the cas<strong>in</strong>o’s<br />

annual economic impact was projected at $34.2 million (Whitecourt Star, 2006).<br />

The Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation cas<strong>in</strong>o was expected to generate more than $4 million <strong>in</strong><br />

employment; $5 million <strong>in</strong> charitable fund<strong>in</strong>g; and $17 million annually paid directly to the First<br />

Nation (Ohler 2007). Whitecourt <strong>of</strong>ficials were anticipat<strong>in</strong>g a $4.2 million annual w<strong>in</strong>dfall from<br />

cas<strong>in</strong>o operations. The Alberta Lottery Fund was expected to receive $9 million annually with<br />

$3 million go<strong>in</strong>g to the FNDF. The full-service truck stop and a 106-room Marriott Fairfield Inn<br />

were set for construction with<strong>in</strong> a year <strong>of</strong> the cas<strong>in</strong>o open<strong>in</strong>g, which has not occurred. Not<strong>in</strong>g<br />

that most cas<strong>in</strong>o projects need a population base <strong>of</strong> 45,000 to succeed, and that the regional<br />

populations barely meet that number, the viability <strong>of</strong> the project was based on the fact that a<br />

daily average <strong>of</strong> roughly 16,000 motorists drove past the proposed cas<strong>in</strong>o site.<br />

Actual Impacts<br />

Like the Enoch Cree, the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation is required to pay back <strong>in</strong>vestor debt that is<br />

non-gam<strong>in</strong>g related. S<strong>in</strong>ce the FNDF is lost to community programs until the project<br />

development debt is paid <strong>of</strong>f, the Northern Isga Foundation provided the bulk <strong>of</strong> local project<br />

fund<strong>in</strong>g. To date 10 houses have been built, reduc<strong>in</strong>g by a small proportion the need for<br />

approximately 400. S<strong>in</strong>ce January 2008, the Charity (the community’s only sources <strong>of</strong> <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong>related<br />

<strong>in</strong>come) has funded $1.5 million worth <strong>of</strong> community activities and projects.<br />

Dur<strong>in</strong>g cas<strong>in</strong>o construction an estimated $1-million <strong>in</strong>frastructure was established anticipat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

hotel construction, which is depreciat<strong>in</strong>g and deteriorat<strong>in</strong>g daily. The difficulty <strong>in</strong> attract<strong>in</strong>g an<br />

hotelier arose from a proviso <strong>in</strong> the orig<strong>in</strong>al agreement with Marriott <strong>in</strong>dicat<strong>in</strong>g that after 20<br />

years operations, the hotel reverts to Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation’s ownership. Three years <strong>in</strong>to<br />

cas<strong>in</strong>o operations, few hoteliers have expressed an <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>vest<strong>in</strong>g know<strong>in</strong>g that they will<br />

lose controll<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> 17 years. The lost hotel and employment revenues are at this po<strong>in</strong>t<br />

<strong>in</strong>calculable.<br />

The enhanced polic<strong>in</strong>g agreement assign<strong>in</strong>g two <strong>of</strong>ficers to the Whitecourt RCMP costs the<br />

Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation approximately $130,000 each/annually. Local <strong>of</strong>ficials <strong>in</strong>dicate that<br />

these additional <strong>of</strong>ficers are utiliz<strong>in</strong>g only a portion <strong>of</strong> their time deal<strong>in</strong>g with cas<strong>in</strong>o-related<br />

issues, a time commitment pegged at 25% <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g patrol time to the cas<strong>in</strong>o and<br />

adm<strong>in</strong>istration. The Town <strong>of</strong> Whitecourt is benefitt<strong>in</strong>g from the enhanced polic<strong>in</strong>g by 1½ police<br />

<strong>of</strong>ficers cost-free. The First Nation has no say over the police purchased for the cas<strong>in</strong>o, where<br />

they are considered municipal members under the control <strong>of</strong> the staff sergeant. Paragon<br />

Gam<strong>in</strong>g pays <strong>in</strong> perpetuity $90,000 annually for fire and ambulance services for the cas<strong>in</strong>o site.<br />

250

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