The Covid-19 pandemic continued to impact the gaming industry in Saskatchewan in 2021-22 as it did with most other businesses. Due to the Covid -19 pandemic the Province of Saskatchewan declared a state of emergency on March 18, 2020. A Public Health Order was issued and ordered the closure of recreational and entertainment facilities which included the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) and Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation (SGC) casinos.
In response to the closure and loss of revenues, the FSIN successfully entered negotiations with the Government of Saskatchewan and signed a Letter of Understanding (LOU) secure alternate funding for the 2020-21 fiscal year. As a result of the forced closures and the resulting LOU, the First Nations Trust suffered a significant decline in revenues for the 2020-21 year. There was also a significant reduction in the mandatory allocation to FNARF.
The Public Health Order continued into the 2021-2022 fiscal year. SIGA casinos were allowed to reopen on June 21, 2021 but with significant occupancy limits. On July 10, 2021, the capacity limits were removed.
In response to the continued closure and resulting loss of revenues, the FSIN and the Government of Saskatchewan signed an LOU for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. Again, the Revenue Sharing provisions contained in Part 4 of the Framework Agreement were suspended for the year. In its place, the Government of Saskatchewan made a non-repayable, one-time grant to the First Nations Trust in the amount of $28,452,800 and a mandatory allocation of $250,000 for FNARF. In addition, the Trust will also receive a portion of SIGA’s net revenues from the 2021-2022 fiscal year, which amount will be determined after completion of SIGA’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year and paid to the Trust as an adjustment payment in the following fiscal year.
As a result of the forced closures and the resulting LOU, the First Nations Trust again suffered a significant decline in revenues for the 2021-22 year. There was also a significant reduction in the mandatory allocation to FNARF.