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rfmcdonaldThe Toronto Star's David Rider covers the ongoing debate about whether or not to place a casino in downtown Toronto. Mayor Rob Ford is enthusiastically for; the speakers at a public forum being held today are against.
One thing raised in the article noteworthy to me is the idea of buildnig a casino outside of the downtown core, in the area, perhaps in the area of the Woodbine complex as mentioned in the quote below. Building a casino in the downtown core where it could cannibalize established businesses is much less appealing to me than building a casino in an area that could use the jobs.
One thing raised in the article noteworthy to me is the idea of buildnig a casino outside of the downtown core, in the area, perhaps in the area of the Woodbine complex as mentioned in the quote below. Building a casino in the downtown core where it could cannibalize established businesses is much less appealing to me than building a casino in an area that could use the jobs.
Ford’s executive committee is considering city manager Joe Pennachetti’s report. It does not specifically call for council to entertain the casino opportunity but suggests 43 conditions council should make any such permission contingent upon.
Swimming against the tide of deputations was Terry Mundell of the Greater Toronto Hotel Association and Jan Jones of Nevada-based Caesars Entertainment.
Mundell urged councillors to support a downtown casino in an expanded and revamped Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Front St. W., saying the tourism industry desperately needs another 600,000 sq. ft. of contiguous convention space to draw the biggest conventions.
Jones, a former Las Vegas mayor, said she understands controversy surrounding the proposal but Vegas has become the “the number one city for tourism in America . . . it’s a partnership that works.”
A good chunk of the morning focused on Woodbine race track, with representatives including Nick Eaves, chief executive of Woodbine Entertainment, and famed retired jockey Sandy Hawley, urging councillors to endorse a full casino at the Rexdale track.
It currently has 2,500 slot machines but wants to add table games. Woodbine is in a different “gaming zone” than downtown Toronto. Eaves said if OLG approves a competing casino in neighbouring Vaughan or Markham, thousands of jobs at Woodbine would be in danger.
Eaves noted that city consultations suggested a majority of Torontonians support a full casino at Woodbine, unlike a downtown casino.
Not getting a casino at Woodbine would have “a significantly detrimental impact,” on his operation, Eaves said, with Hawley adding that 2,500 jobs in the “backstretch” — including veterinarians, blacksmiths and jockeys — are at stake.
