Revenue sharing deal rejected by Ontario tribes

The revenue-sharing deal between Ontario native tribes and the provincial lotteries and casinos has been rejected by the tribal chiefs. The deal would have had a value in funding of $2.5-billion over 20 years.

Under the proposal, the revenue of 133 communities would have been increased to $125-million. The communities are currently paid by the Casino Rama in Orillia.

The agreement was voted on Monday and would have solved a series of lawsuits against the Ontario government, because of the funding produced by the Orillia casino.

The former Conservative government decided in 1996 that a part of Casino Rama's profits would go the provincial coffers. The chiefs said that they are against this decision and because of this they couldn’t agree with the deal.

If they would have agreed with the deal they would have had to abandon their lawsuits against the province, give up their interest in Casino Rama and have restrictions placed on the use of the funds.