Vote Yes
An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Indian Act
This bill gives First Nation governing bodies exclusive authority to conduct, manage, and license lottery schemes from or within their reserves, once they notify the federal government and the relevant province(s). It amends the Criminal Code to recognize this authority and clarifies that provincial control does not apply on reserves where a First Nation has provided notice. It amends the Indian Act to allow band councils to make by-laws governing the operation, conduct, and management of on-reserve gaming. The intent is to recognize Indigenous self-government in gaming and enable on-reserve economic development through clearer jurisdiction.
This bill advances economic freedom and investment on reserves by clarifying exclusive First Nation authority over gaming, with a simple notice requirement. The national-scale impact is modest and some regulatory fragmentation risks remain, but these can be mitigated without new red tape.
What safeguards will the government put in place to ensure consistent anti–money laundering, responsible gambling, and consumer protection standards across multiple First Nation gaming regimes without reimposing provincial red tape?
What is the projected fiscal impact on provincial lottery revenues and public services, and will the government establish a transparent framework for dispute resolution or revenue-sharing to avoid costly intergovernmental litigation?
Does the authority to conduct lottery schemes “from or within” a reserve extend to online offerings to off-reserve players, and if so, how will geolocation, interprovincial reciprocity, and cross-border enforcement be managed?
Enabling First Nations to capture gaming revenues and jobs can raise local incomes and contribute to national prosperity, though overall macro impact is modest.
Replaces provincial gatekeeping with a notice-based regime and local authority, reducing bureaucracy for on-reserve gaming enterprises.
Benefits are concentrated in the gaming/hospitality niche; little effect on economy-wide productivity or global competitiveness.
Gaming is primarily domestic; any cross-border online play is uncertain and not directly advanced by the bill.
Clearer jurisdiction and licensing authority can attract private capital and spur innovation in casinos, bingo, and iGaming on reserves.
Jurisdiction is clarified, but a patchwork of by-laws could create compliance variability; efficiency gains or costs depend on coordination and standards.
No tax policy changes; this shifts regulatory authority and revenue sources rather than altering tax incentives.
A targeted sectoral reform with localized benefits; not a broad-based prosperity strategy.
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