Area reserves to share Casino Rama revenues

Couchiching First Nation will receive more than $1 million as its share of the revenue generated by Casino Rama in Orillia.
“We’re not in receipt of it yet but it’s going to be around $1.2 million and then quarterly payments,” Chief Chuck McPherson said.
Earlier this month, the province signed the Casino Rama Revenue Agreement, releasing the money from a provincial trust fund.
All 133 First Nations in Ontario are slated to get a percentage of the $400 million in revenue–a portion of the revenue the casino has accumulated since it first opened in 1996.
Of that portion, 35 percent (or $140 million) will go to the Mnjikaning First Nation where the casino is located, with 65 percent spread out among the others.
The reserves receive the funding based on their community’s total membership.
The Ontario First Nations Partnership Fund has been formed to handle the disbursement of the funds, and ensure all the communities make risk-free investments or community improvements with the money.
The board has outlined five areas in which the money can be spent within the community–economic development, education, health, culture, and community development.
“We will spend in on community development projects and economic development,” said Chief McPherson.
“We get about half-a-million or so,” noted Stanjikoming Chief Edward Morrsion. “[But] it hasn’t been decided how we’re going to spend it.”
The board currently is comprised of four members representing each First Nations area. But a Treaty #3 rep has not been appointed yet because it is going through government restructuring within that area.
“[Some] 102 agreements out of the 133 have been signed. At the end of this month, they would start being distributed,” noted Steve Williams, president, CEO, and chairperson of the Ontario First Nations Partnership Fund.
Any other revenue accumulated from the casino is to be distributed to the First Nations through the established formula on a monthly basis.
Casino Rama, which has 2,000 slot machines and 100 gaming tables, grossed about $500 million in 1999 alone.