City's gambling take in jeopardy

David Carrigg-Staff writer

Mayor Philip Owen will meet the Solicitor General today after council unanimously attacked the province's proposed Gaming Control Act and demanded input.

Owen would not reveal what he wants to discuss at the meeting with Rich Coleman, the minister responsible for gaming. But in a report to council last week, city staff noted the proposed act does not enshrine the city's right to a 10 per cent cut of gaming revenue within its boundaries, guaranteed under an agreement signed between the former NDP government and the Union of B.C. Municipalities in 1999. That 10-per-cent cut brought $3.4 million into city coffers in 2001.

Coun. Jennifer Clarke said the city remains opposed to gaming expansion or slot machines within its jurisdiction and is disappointed the province didn't consult municipalities-as was promised in the 1999 agreement-before the Gaming Control Act was tabled in the legislature and given first reading March 4.

"We have a number of concerns with the act because gaming has such a controversial past in Vancouver," Clarke said. "The act is silent on revenue sharing and that allows for movement, if you get my drift."

The city first questioned the provincial government over its gaming policy in 1987 because of concerns that casinos were unregulated. The issue blew up in 1994 when the government agreed to let a casino operator with slot machines to set up on Vancouver's waterfront.

Council rejected the development application and in 1997, voted to outlaw slot machines in the city because of the social costs related to gambling addiction.

The ban was challenged by the B.C. Lottery Corporation, but the province lost its fight to force slots on municipalities in both the B.C. Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.

The Memorandum of Agreement later signed between the province and UBCM confirmed local governments' right to decide whether new or relocated facilities would be permitted within their boundaries, along with the types of casino and bingo gaming allowed, such as slot machines.

Under the 1999 MOA, the provincial government can't change or expand gaming activities within casinos without the consent of the host municipality.

Under the government's proposed Gaming Control Act, however, municipal consent is only required in cases of "substantial change" to the type or extent of casino gaming.

"The problem is the act doesn't define what substantial is," said Clark.

The Gaming Control Act, or Bill 6, provides the legislative basis for the Liberal government's new gaming policy, which includes removing charities' right to control bingo-although they'll continue to collect revenue-and the streamlining of gaming agencies to just two, the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch and the B.C. Lottery Corporation.

According to the March 12 city report, Coleman wrote to the UBCM in January promising to "generally" adhere to the MOA. But no consultation was requested prior to the introduction of the gaming legislation.

Coleman, who will return early from spring break to meet with Owen, would not comment until after today's meeting.

Ken Bayne, the city's director of financial planning, said gaming revenue legally belongs to the province, which can set any revenue-sharing agreement it wishes.

City staff and council are also concerned about the proposed act's definition of gaming facilities, and the dispute resolution process for the location or relocation of gaming facilities.