Vernon lobbies for a share of online gaming revenue

City of Vernon administration and Mayor Victor Cumming have had their first meeting with the Minister of Municipal Affairs Josie Osborne.

“We expressed that our interest in sharing of online gaming revenue which the province has see a dramatic increase,” Cumming said.

Vernon saw a $1.6 million shortfall in this year’s casino gaming funds due to operations like Lake City Casino being shut down during the pandemic.

Cities get a share of the money made at gaming outlets in a provincial program that funds infrastructure and other municipal projects.

Vernon was expected to receive about $2 million in 2020.

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“We received $342,000 in the first quarter [when casinos were partly operating]. We expected perhaps a half million, and we will not get any more for the rest of the year, so we’re about $1.6 million short, a substantial amount,” Cumming said.

A source close to the situation told Vernon Matters that it is highly unlikely the province will open the door to sharing online gaming revenue, as municipalities would expect it to continue post-pandemic.

Osborne, the former mayor of Tofino, was elected as MLA for Mid Island-Pacific Rim in the 2020 election.

In addition to here ministry, she is also a member of the planning and priorities committee and the cabinet committee on social initiatives.

The mayor also pressed the minister not to close B.C. provincial parks again as part of pandemic protocols.