The Alliance for Arts and Culture has thrown its support behind a motion put forward by COPE Councillor Ellen Woodsworth regarding casino development. The motion, which has been placed on the January 18 council meeting agenda, asks, among other things, that the city “affirms both the inherent and contractual rights and interests of charities and non-profits to gaming proceeds, and refuses the expand gaming until those rights and interests are protected.”

Also on the council agenda for January 18 is the delivery of a policy report that refers the relocation and expansion of the Edgewater Casino to a public hearing.

The expansion of gambling in the province has become a heated issue for the arts and nonprofit sector in recent months. In October, the B.C. Association of C Gaming, along with the Alliance for Arts and Culture, launched a campaign calling on the city to block gambling expansion until the province honours a 1999 Memorandum of Agreement with the BCACG to distribute one-third of gambling revenues to the charitable sector. Total arrears over the last 10 years, claims the BCACG, amount to nearly $1.3 billion.

The arts sector has been particularly hard-hit by cuts to gambling grants over the past year. In March 2009, the province announced changes to community gambling grant sectors, stating that 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. In November 2010, the BCACG asked the Auditor General to conduct an investigation into the province’s administration and distribution of gambling proceeds.

Councillor Woodsworth’s motion reads, in full:

WHEREAS

1. The proposed expansion of Edgewater Casino on the North East Shore of False Creek in Downtown Vancouver would be the largest casino in British Columbia;

2. Recent news has revealed a concerning link between casinos and organized crime and money laundering;

3. Citizens across Vancouver are concerned about increasing organized crime activity and the accompanying increases in enforcement costs;

4. Recent reports also show record subsidies paid to casinos while non-profits, charities, and arts organizations are being funded at levels lower than during the 1990s;

5. The fact the Gaming Policy Enforcement Branch and the British Columbia Lottery Corporation is being directed by the same ministry represents a serious potential conflict in gaming priorities and raises serious concerns about how gaming will be regulated and promoted in Vancouver;

6. Public confidence in the lottery system needs to be restored prior to any decision on the expansion of gaming in the City of Vancouver.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED

A. That the City of Vancouver support calls to have the Gaming Policy Enforcement Branch and the British Columbia Lottery Corporation separated into different ministries.

B. That the City of Vancouver call for a review of public gaming in the province of British Columbia in order to restore public confidence in the integrity of the lottery system and that Vancouver Council support the B.C. Association of Charitable Gaming’s call for the Auditor General to investigate, and review the B.C. government’s obligations to charities for gaming revenues.

C. That the City of Vancouver affirms both the inherent and contractual rights and interests of charities and non-profits to gaming proceeds, and refuses to expand gaming until those rights and interests are protected.