Ontario
Tribal Chief Wants Online Gaming Vote
As reported by the Hamilton
Spectator: "Six Nations Chief David General
believes the people will have to decide whether
Internet gaming is a safe bet for Canada's most
populous native reserve.
"He
said all members of the elected band council
now agree the thorny question, which first surfaced
three years ago, has to be determined by the
voters themselves.
"'The
only way we can do it is by having a referendum,'
General said at the band council offices yesterday.
"He
said the vote would probably be held within
the year and would mean contacting all eligible
voters among the 22,000 band members, only about
half of whom live on the reserve outside Brantford.
The others are scattered over Canada and the
United States and in military units overseas.
"And
even if supporters win the vote, elected officials
would have to deal with the implications of
sanctioning an activity that's still illegal
anywhere in Canada.
"…Proponents
of Internet gaming claimed it would create high-tech
jobs on the reserve and bring in about $3 million
a year in licensing fees for the band council.
As far as the legality was concerned, they argued
the reserve is a sovereign nation and not subject
to Canadian laws. They pointed out that the
Kahnawake reserve near Montreal allows Internet
gaming -- the only jurisdiction in Canada that
does -- and could act as a model for Six Nations.
The authorities have never tried to close it
down…"
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