Volume 6, Issue No. 5
OPINION/COMMENTARY
/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /
Our latest as of Sunday, August 4, 2024
~ Filipino seniors were told they could lodge their complaint against Fiesta Extravaganza in Brampton for raising money through the sale of raffle tickets to the regional police or the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario because the city has no jurisdiction over gaming. "Unlicensed raffles . . . constitute illegal gaming," an official said.
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FILIPINO SENIORS' COMPLAINT IN BRAMPTON
Unlicensed Raffles Are Illegal Gaming
Police, Ontario Could Probe Claim Against Festival
By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ
Editor, The Filipino Web Channel
"Fraud and falsehood only dread examination. Truth invites it." - Samuel Johnson
TORONTO - Following a recent complaint by Filipino seniors, an official of the City of Brampton clarified that it has no jurisdiction over unlicensed raffles, but the parties could still bring the case to provincial gaming authorities and the regional police which investigate such matters.
The 143-member Filipino Seniors of Mississauga (FSM) had asked top city officials "to protect public interest" after allegations surfaced that Fiesta Extravaganza (FE) in Brampton had engaged in "illegal" fundraising through the sale of raffle tickets during its festival there on the weekend of July 13-14.
FSM president Rene Sevilla has described it as "a raffle that should not have been started at all in the first place without first obtaining a permit and license to do so."
His contention that the raffle was carried out without a permit and a license was not denied by Von Canton, the boastful president of FE.
In fact, in an email responding to questions from this reporter, he admitted to the screwup, or to "some oversight" as he called it.
"We acknowledge there was some oversight in obtaining a raffle permit," he stated.
"Our intent was not to launch a large fundraising effort, as the raffle was only promoted internally within our organization," he added.
Meanwhile, Shawnica Hans, a program manager at the City of Brampton, clarified last week that "Unlicensed raffles are contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada and, as such, constitute illegal gaming."
She stressed: "In Ontario, illegal gaming is investigated by the police or the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)."
"If you wish to pursue this matter further," Hans told FSM, "you are welcome to reach out to either of the noted organizations. Peel Regional Police can be reached at 905.453.3311 and the AGCO can be reached at 416.326.8700."
FE had initiated selling raffle tickets at $2 apiece with the potential of winning a grand prize of $1,500; $750 second prize; and $250 third prize.
He then probably realized his blunder in admitting soliciting funds from outside his organization and promptly corrected it, stressing that "We only sell to friends, families and members. No sponsors and major supporters involved."
Canton's flip-flopping, which he attributed to a "typo," served only to heighten suspicion among those who patronized his festival. Some quarters believed the amount raised from the raffle tickets could be bigger than what he acknowledged.
According to knowledgeable sources, the reason Canton changed his tune - from relying on "patrons and supporters" to limiting the fundraising "to friends, families and members" - is to justify the $972 net proceeds FE made and shut anymore inquiries.
Based on the information provided by the City of Brampton, it's not immediately clear if FSM would pursue the case against FE and the people behind the festival with the police and gaming authorities.
Canton had sought to dispel doubts about FE in the wake of FSM's complaint by posting a list of nine names he called "winners" in the raffle. He refused to give contact emails or phone numbers, citing privacy concerns.
He posted the list on Facebook on Tuesday, July 23 at 12:36 p.m., or eight days after the event. He embedded the post in reply to my questions dated Monday, July 22 at 7:35 p.m.
In other words, it took him all of 19 hours to respond to the queries, and nearly two hours more before he stated in an email that, and I quote, "The allegation that there were no winners is incorrect."
He added: "While it's easy to make such claims, proving them is another matter. All winners have been contacted and notified, and almost all of them have already received their prizes."
He then provided an update on the distribution of proceeds, as follows:
Raffle Proceeds Breakdown:
- Total Ticket Sales (Gross): $4,044
- Cash Prizes: $2,500
- Net Proceeds: $1,544
Sales from the Seniors Group:
- Total Sales: $2,860
- Commission (20%): $572
- This commission will be transferred to their organization this week as part of our agreement for their efforts.
Summary:
- Net Proceeds After Commission: $972
- These funds will be directed to the event organizer to support the celebration.
Canton was obviously defensive in his reply. Actually, the complaint did not question whether there were winners or none. The focus was in the conduct of the raffle.
Says the complaint: "If the sale of these raffle tickets was done irregularly, that is, without authorization or license from the proper authorities, the issue and the big question that comes to mind, who has the legal right to the proceeds of the sales of the raffle tickets?"
Did the complaint force Canton to come up with the raffle "winners" knowing it's a big issue that could potentially damage his brand and reputation and further trigger a media investigation?
My initial article (https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2024/07/the-raffle-ticket-fiasco-by-fiesta.html) had gone viral within hours of its publication on Thursday, July 25.
Readers in Ottawa and Montreal told me they were "shocked" to learn about the complaint by Filipino seniors against Canton's fiesta extravaganza.
"That has been going on since 2018," they said of the raffle scheme. The unsolicited statement, while still unverified and unsupported up to this writing, was repeated at least several times by four different individuals.
On the basis of the complaint, I had ventured the opinion that the raffle appeared to be a rip-off and that there was possible wrong-doing.
Canton rejected the characterization, saying "the terms 'rip-off,' 'victimized,' and 'wrong-doing' do not apply to our organization's values and integrity."
"We have never been involved in such practices since our founding in 2018," he stressed. (Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved).
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