The Grey Rock Entertainment Center of the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation in Canada’s New Brunswick province could be forced to shut down due to Covid-related losses that have caused its debt to the province to grow.
The casino has about 115 employees. It’s customer base is mainly Quebec and Maine, both of which are cut off due to travel bans. About 65 percent comes from out of the province.
Owner John Bernard said his debt to the province has grown to about $800,000 since the casino reopened in summer. “Right now, we probably shouldn’t be open because we’re running up our debt,” he said.
The casino is obliged to pay the First Nation 20 percent of its revenue and another 20 percent to New Brunswick. The pandemic led to a 65 percent drop in revenue, said Bernard. He is requesting some assistance from the First Nation and the provincial government.
“I really want the governments to come back and act like shareholders and business partners, because we’re in this together,” he said.
