Manitoba ends pause on new gambling operations, focuses on public alcohol sales

The Manitoba government is looking at expanding the gambling industry for the first time in years, and offering more alcohol through government-run retail stores.

The Manitoba government is looking at expanding the gambling industry for the first time in years, and offering more alcohol through government-run retail stores.

The NDP government, elected in October, revamped the board at Crown-owned Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries on Tuesday. New members include Jeff Traeger, president of a local United Food and Commercial Workers union, who will serve as chair.

The government also issued a mandate letter to the board that says a pause on new gambling facilities, put in place by the former Progressive Conservative government in 2018, will be lifted. Reconciliation with Indigenous people is to be part of the plan.

"Work collaboratively with stakeholders to lift the pause on gaming expansion in a targeted fashion to include supporting economic reconciliation and local economic development while maintaining (the Crown corporation's) commitment to supporting the communities they serve," Glen Simard, the minister responsible for Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, wrote.

First Nations leaders were upset a decade ago when the Shark Club, a gambling centre with slot machines, table games and more, operated by True North Sports and Entertainment, opened in downtown Winnipeg.

First Nations groups had previously sought to open a casino in Winnipeg but were rebuffed by the government of the day, which said the Winnipeg market was already full with two government-run casinos in outlying neighbourhoods.

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs later filed a lawsuit against the government, seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages for what it says was lost revenue. The statement of claim has not been tested in court.