Toronto Readies for New Casino Talks
Despite the holiday season, the Toronto city council is finalizing its plans to begin a series of meetings that will garner feedback from the public about the idea of new gambling resort.
The City of Toronto website informs the public that, as from January 9th, 2013, it will be running a series of community open houses in the City Hall rotunda.
These meetings will run throughout the month and will, according to the website, "gather input, including the public's views and opinions on a casino generally, on possible locations for a casino, and what the public would like Council to consider when making a decision on this matter."
The city council has also been in direct contact with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp, which has provided information ahead of these public gatherings.
One Ontario Municipality to Get Casino
The OLG has said that only one of the three municipalities which have been earmarked as potential locations for a new casino will eventually get a casino.
At present, the three municipalities designated are Toronto, Markham and Mississauga. Recently, Vaughan also put in a request to be considered, and the OLG still needs to decide whether to allow this jurisdiction into the race as well.
The OLG has dictated that each municipal council needs to first decide whether it actually supports a casino, following public consultation.
A Request for Pre-Qualifications will then be initiated, and potential operators will be assessed to see if they will be able to run a gambling facility of that size.
Once this entire process has been completed, a Request for Proposals to actually construct and operate the casino will be issued.
A spokesman for the OLG, Tony Bitonti: "We want to make a decision hopefully in 2013."
He stressed that the OLG would "go only where we're welcome", and said that no municipalities would be forced to accept the idea of a new casino.
Opposition to New Toronto Casino
In the meantime, the group most vocally opposed to a new casino in Toronto, No Casino Toronto, has sent an email to potential supporters, asking them for their support during next month's new Toronto casino talks.
The email said that the group's message "must get out there for this to happen, your continued support is essential."
Supporters have been told that even a $5 donation could purchase two anti-casino signs.
