The B.C. government has misled the province’s charities and non-profit groups by not delivering on a promise to distribute one-third of gaming funds to them: that was the accusation sounded by Susan Marsden, president of the B.C. Association of Charitable Gaming, at a news conference outside city hall today (October 14).

“A fair share [of gaming revenues] was promised us, we acted in good faith, we let the government use our good name to sell gaming expansion to the municipalities, and we were duped,” said Marsden, flanked by the Alliance for Arts and Culture’s advocacy task force chair Sandy Garossino. “We have an agreement,” she continued. “It’s an agreement that makes people feel good about gaming because they feel they’re supporting the charities. The problem is we have an agreement that the government isn’t living up to.”

Amid signs from supporters that read “Where’s the money we helped BC govt raise?” and “Think more gaming revenues = more money for charities? Wrong!”, Marsden called on Vancouver city council to stop its review of gaming applications until the B.C. government promises to adhere to its 1999 memorandum of agreement with the BCACG, which sets the charitable share of gaming proceeds at 33 percent.

For the fiscal year 2009-10, B.C.’s net gaming revenues were $1.07 billion, while funding for non-profit community organizations was $112.6 million, according to the province’s own figures. “We have an agreement that stipulates 33 percent, and we’re getting 10 percent,” said Marsden.

In March, Premier Gordon Campbell announced plans for a new $450-million entertainment complex attached to B.C. Place. The 680,000-square-foot complex would include a relocated Edgewater Casino and two hotels, and is subject to the city’s approval and rezoning. The plan is expected to go before council within weeks, according to COPE city councillor Ellen Woodsworth, who attended the news conference. “I’ve been raising concerns that the provincial government did not have public meetings where they could present the proposal and where people could have an impact on whether this was the kind of thing that was important for the community,” said Woodsworth. “I think these people [the BCACG and its supporters] have some valid criticisms. I think city hall should get a meeting of the provincial government with these organizations so that it can be resolved before it has to come before city council.”

Also raised at the news conference was the province’s changes to gaming grant eligibility. In March, the province announced changes to community gaming grant sectors, stating adult arts and culture, adult sports, environmental groups and school playgrounds would not receive funding in 2010-2011. The new eligibility criteria followed decisions in August 2009 that only a limited number arts and culture groups would be funded. The revised funding rules have reduced the number of charitable and non-profit groups eligible for gaming money from 6,800 in 2008 to 5,000, said Marsden.

“I guess the government figures if you create enough roadblocks, move enough goalposts, and remove as many players from the field as possible, they can actually justify the cuts to funding by saying there weren’t enough non-profits or charities that qualified,” she went on. “I’m here to tell you we will not be played like fools. We want our fair share of gaming funds.”

The province estimates the proposed new entertainment complex would generate up to $130-million in gambling revenues in its first year of operation. Pavco, the Crown Corporation that runs B.C. Place, has signed a 70-year lease with Paragon Development Ltd. for two acres next to B.C. Place. Construction on the site is planned to start in early 2011.

The BCACG has launched a petition urging city council to refuse to review any applications for gaming expansion until the province honours its 1999 memorandum of agreement with the BCACG, or negotiates a new agreement.

Woodsworth said she would consider not supporting the expanded casino proposal if the concerns raised by the BCACG were not addressed. “I think we need to make sure that the provincial government sits down with these organizations and talks to them, and makes sure their needs are being met,” she said. “If we don’t find out that they’re seriously sitting down and addressing these concerns, I will have serious reservations about supporting it.”

Today’s news conference followed a call last week by the Alliance of Arts and Culture for Rich Coleman, minister of housing and social development, to reinstate all gaming funds that previously supported community services provided by charities and non-profits. Amir Ali Alibhai, executive director of the Alliance, who attended today’s event, said the organization was making a conscious decision to move beyond solely advocating on behalf of arts groups. “Right from the beginning [of funding cuts] we tried to build a coalition, because we realize we’re in this together,” he said. The cuts are felt by all sectors, not just arts. [With the BCACG] we have a bigger umbrella under which we can stand together....I think the arts are not isolated from life and all the other issues we face, and it’s important to remember and show that.”

The Straight has requested an interview with Minister Coleman.