Whitecap Casino Project Given Green Light

Friday, August 06, 2004 at 14:22

The provincial government has granted the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority conditional approval to build and operate a new casino on the Whitecap Dakota First Nation.

The new casino will be located on reserve land 27 kilometres south of Saskatoon.

SIGA had initially wanted to build a casino in downtown Saskatoon, but that idea was met with stiff opposition from local residents.

Before work on the gaming facility can begin, however, the provincial government and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations have to amend the 2002 Gaming Framework Agreement.

The province wants amendments to include a provision that profits from the new casino that would would normally flow to First Nations be held in trust.

The government wants to use that as a guarantee that outstanding accountability issues at SIGA will be fully addressed by the time the casino is operational.

The casino at Whitecap is expected to create 550 long-term jobs.