Manitoba Lotteries First Canadian Crown Corporation to Receive Gold in Progressive Aboriginal Relations Program

February 20, 2008

The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation (MLC) was honoured at a ceremony yesterday in Toronto by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) for achieving the gold level in the Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) program, Competitiveness, Training and Trade Minister Andrew Swan, minister responsible for MLC, said today. This is MLC’s third PAR award. It is the first Crown corporation in Canada to receive gold-level status.

PAR’s purpose is to help organizations gauge and improve their commitment to Aboriginal relations including Aboriginal employment and business development.“As the minister responsible for Manitoba Lotteries, I am absolutely thrilled and very proud that MLC has reached this level of achievement,” said Swan. “This award acknowledges the many efforts of MLC’s employees for their outstanding contributions in advancing and implementing Aboriginal initiatives, furthering Manitoba Lotteries’ strategic goal of employment equity and diversity in the workplace.”

Manitoba Lotteries has been actively engaged in partnering with the Aboriginal community for a number of years and continually strives to enhance and maintain the standards it have established, said Swan. For example:

· As an employment equity employer, MLC is committed to the value of diversity in the workplace. About 13 per cent of MLC’s employees are Aboriginal.
· MLC sponsors many Aboriginal events such as the Manito-Ahbee Aboriginal festival and Aboriginal Music Awards. MLC also celebrates and promotes National Aboriginal Day with festivities at the Casinos of Winnipeg. As well, the casinos support Aboriginal entertainers.
· In the workplace, training initiatives include Aboriginal teachings and diversity training, and further opportunities are offered through MLC’s internship and mentorship programs.
· MLC regularly consults with Aboriginal businesses with respect to employment and procurement opportunities. The corporation is also an active member of the Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce.

In a letter to MLC announcing the award, Albert Diamond, chair of the PAR jury, stated that MLC is setting an excellent example and considers Manitoba Lotteries to be a role model in how an organization should proceed through the stages of the program in a well-planned and orderly manner. MLC achieved the bronze level in 2003 and silver in 2006.

The mission of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business is to increase Aboriginal participation in the Canadian economy. It believes PAR is a good way to fulfil that mission and the successful implementation of PAR will increase the awareness of the business community to other issues of importance to Aboriginal Canadians, issues in which CCAB is also active such as education for young Aboriginal people and increasing understanding and building relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians.

MLC is responsible for the management and operation of Club Regent and McPhillips Street Station casinos, the video lottery terminal network, and sales and distribution of lottery products, bingo paper and break-open tickets in Manitoba. Revenue generated from MLC’s products has a direct and positive impact on Manitobans with net revenue allocated towards government programs in health care, education, social and community services and economic development, said Swan, adding the corporation is also committed to helping community organizations through event sponsorships, fundraising support and volunteerism.

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