The Musqueam Indian Band will receive significant revenue for three years from Paragon Gaming’s 0 million Parq Casino and Hotel, located next to BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, under an agreement with B.C. Pavilion Corporation. The casino is expected to open in late 2016.
Confirming the arrangement with Musquem, stadium spokesman Duncan Blomfield said, “PavCo will receive $3 million per year in lease revenue once the development has been completed. A total of $8.5 million in lease revenue received from the development, spread over the first three years, will be allocated to the accommodation agreement with Musqueam First Nation.” In addition, PavCo will get $500,000 in lease payments from Paragon before 2020.
Wayne Sparrow, chief of the 1,368-member Musqueam, said the PavCo deal was finalized in 2013. He noted Musqueam exercised its rights under a November 2004 Supreme Court of Canada decision stating governments must consult and accommodate First Nations in decisions that may affect them, including the sale or lease of Crown lands. The tribe’s reservation is in southwest Vancouver, but downtown Vancouver is within Musqueam’s traditional territory and land claim.
“Originally, we talked about having one lump payment, but it was negotiated where it would be three payments. If there is any future negotiations with a longer-term lease or to sell the land, they would come back and have consultation with the Musqueam. That’s what we agreed upon,” Sparrow said.
Work began last summer on the Parq Casino and Hotel, which will be the second major casino involving Musqueam.
