New casino for Saskatoon area

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The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) is hoping to expand its profitable gaming operations with the creation of a new 50,000 square foot casino in Saskatoon.

SIGA president and chief executive officer Dutch Lerat confirmed the gaming authority's plans Nov. 18, describing a proposed casino that would cost $10 million to build and would employ as many as 300 people. The proposed casino would be owned by the Saskatoon Tribal Council and would be the fifth gaming facility operated by SIGA. The Indian gaming authority already operates casinos in Yorkton, North Battleford, Prince Albert and on the White Bear Reserve near Carlyle. Before it goes ahead, the proposed Saskatoon facility would require approval from the province and the city. The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is currently seeking provincial approval for gaming operations in the province. An existing five-year gaming agreement between the FSIN and the province is due to expire in 2000.

"Our gaming agreement is up in February," said FSIN Chief Perry Bellegarde. "We have a good team in place from the FSIN. They're negotiating very hard and we want to bring something back for our chiefs in January for ratification so we can continue on with creating employment opportunities and generating wealth and spin-offs." SIGA representatives said Saskatoon would be the most logical location for a new Indian casino but they acknowledged there is some opposition to the plan.

Opponents of the proposed SIGA facility say the addition of another casino in Saskatoon would have a devastating effect on the Emerald Casino, a facility operated by the Saskatoon Prairieland Exhibition. Saskatoon Mayor Henry Dayday has indicated he will wait for the results of an October 2000 plebiscite before making any decisions about an expanded gaming sector.

A 1994 plebiscite showed a majority of Saskatoon voters were opposed to a new casino in the downtown area. Lerat said he was hopeful an agreement could be reached with the city but suggested SIGA would look at alternate locations outside the city limits if city council refused to endorse the idea. Lerat said the proposed Indian casino would kickstart the local economy and provide employment for hundreds of city residents. The authority is also surveying business and community groups to determine what level of support exists for the project. Lerat said SIGA would be prepared to hand over a portion of its profits to the Prairieland Exhibition as compensation for lost revenues at the Emerald Casino.

The authority would also guarantee jobs for any Emerald Casino employees affected by the SIGA expansion, Lerat said.

"We are prepared to work with all interested parties to ensure everyone has a say in the future of their province," Lerat told the StarPhoenix newspaper. "But we believe that when people become informed about our plan, they will recognize that the positive impact of a casino will be overwhelming."

A feasibility study prepared a few years ago by the consulting firm of KPMG examined several potential casino locations in and around the city of Saskatoon.

Potential locations inside the city limits included an urban reserve in Sutherland owned by the Muskeg Lake First Nation and a downtown Saskatoon location owned by the Yellow Quill First Nation. Locations outside the city limits include the Whitecap reserve and the Yellow Quill land near Cathedral Bluffs.

"We have to figure out where can you get more bang for the buck, so to speak," said Bellegarde. "Where are we going to have the most economic impact? We have to do studies and make sure the communities are on side and just keep moving ahead."