Mi'kmaq Confederacy defends e-gaming plan efforts

TheMi'kmaqConfederacy of P.E.I. issued a statement Friday afternoon on its efforts to regulate online gaming.

The statement signed byLennox IslandFirst Nation Chief MatildaRamjattan, Chief Brian Francis of theAbegweitFirst Nation and confederacy executive director DonMacKenzie says theMCPEIwas trying to "regulate an unregulated industry."

The statement says, in 2009, the P.E.I. First Nations, throughMCPEI, entered into a partnership with the P.E.I. government to explore the regulation of online gaming.

The plan was to license and regulate gaming companies to ensure protection of the playing public.

Officials note the revenues from licensing fees would have gone toward their underfunded social programs.

"While the band councils were aware and fully supportive of this initiative, confidentiality was required to maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace."

Officials say that band meetings would have been held prior to the project moving forward, but that the province backed out while the plan was still in the confidential stage.

"It's regrettable that these well-intended efforts have now become fodder for provincial political advantage," said theMCPEI.

"It cannot be expressed strongly enough that aboriginal and treaty rights would not have been impacted negatively in any way, shape or form."

MCPEIsays it presents audits to the membership of both First Nations every year at an annual gathering and the government loan from Innovation PEI is covered in the main audits of 2009 to 2013.

Confederacy officials say the money, received in increments, went toMcInnesCooper to cover legal fees and professional service expenses.

They note no funds were used for normalMCPEIactivities.