The appellants challenged the constitutionality of Manitoba's Gaming Control Local Option (VLT) Act, which allowed municipalities to hold binding plebiscites to prohibit video lottery terminals (VLTs).
Section 16 of the Act specifically deemed a prior non-binding plebiscite in the Town of Winkler to be binding, resulting in the termination of the appellants' VLT siteholder agreement.
The Supreme Court of Canada held that the legislation was intra vires the province under its property and civil rights and local matters powers, and was not an unconstitutional encroachment on the federal criminal law power.
The Court also dismissed the appellants' Charter claims under ss. 2(b), 7, and 15(1), finding no violation of freedom of expression, liberty, or equality rights.
