BILL NO. 144

(as introduced)

1st Session, 59th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
54 Elizabeth II, 2005

Private Member's Bill

Gaming Control Act
(amended)

Darrell Dexter
Cole Harbour

First Reading: April 18, 2005

(Explanatory Note)

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

This Bill requires a plebiscite to be held in conjunction with the next general election asking whether video lottery terminals ("VLTs") should be illegal and, if the result of the plebiscite is that VLTs should be illegal, requiring the Governor in Council to make regulations making VLTs illegal.

1 Chapter 4 of the Acts of 1994-95, the Gaming Control Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 67 the following Section:

67A (1) The words and expressions used in this Section have the same meaning as in the Elections Act.

(2) Subject to subsection (5), at the next regular election to be held under the Elections Act after the coming into force of this Section, the returning officers shall take a vote of the electors in the manner prescribed in the Elections Act at which the ballot reads as follows:

Shall the Province make video lottery terminals and other video gaming devices illegal?
£ yes

£ no

(3) The Chief Electoral Officer shall give such directions and make such regulations and prepare such forms as may appear necessary for the purpose of this Section and for the guidance of the returning officers and other persons employed in the taking of the vote and may apply, modify or alter any of the provisions of the Elections Act and make due provision for circumstances that may arise and that are not otherwise provided for.

(4) Where "yes" receives the majority of votes, then, within two months of the taking of the vote, the Governor in Council shall make regulations to implement the result of the vote.

(5) The moneys required for the purpose of this Section may only be paid out of moneys appropriated for that purpose by the Governor in Council pursuant to the Provincial Finance Act.

(ua) implementing the result of the vote held pursuant to Section 67A;