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Saanich submits casino-site options

Saanich council has voted 8-1 to send the B.C. Lottery Corporation a list of potential sites for a new casino to augment the one operating in View Royal for the past 15 years, with the dissenting councillor calling it an “ass backwards” move.
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A lone gambler plays the video-terminal machines at the Great Canadian Casino in View Royal.

Saanich council has voted 8-1 to send the B.C. Lottery Corporation a list of potential sites for a new casino to augment the one operating in View Royal for the past 15 years, with the dissenting councillor calling it an “ass backwards” move.

Meanwhile, Victoria’s preferred sites — topped by the Crystal Garden — will be reviewed by its council today, with West Shore mayors insisting any expansion should top up features at the casino that’s already there.

The Songhees First Nation, Esquimalt First Nation and Township of Esquimalt did not make it through the first phase of the BCLC selection process for a casino, with revenues estimated as high as $40 million a year — translating into an annual cut of up to $2.5 million annually for the host municipality.

“It looks like it would be a beneficial thing, an economic boost for us,” said Saanich Mayor Richard Atwell. “So far, what we’re hearing is that the majority of casino goers are middle income and responsible, but it’s not 100 per cent the case. So this is creating some concern in the community around whether or not we want to be part of this larger world where casinos exist and people participate in them.”

Even if the cut is more like $1.5 million, it will go “a long way” to boost municipal revenues, Atwell said.

A report to Saanich council from municipal staff noted two possible general locations — both the Douglas Street corridor from Tolmie Avenue to Uptown Centre and the Burnside-Tillicum vicinity.

“This does not mean the Uptown Mall or Tillicum Mall, rather it refers to general areas and districts within Saanich where, according to our official community plan, the majority of future development is to be directed,” said chief administrative officer Paul Thorkelsson on the district website. Other sites include Shelbourne Street and either Cedar Hill or McKenzie Avenue or even Royal Oak, Atwell said.

Coun. Leif Wergeland called compiling a list of potential sites an “ass backwards” way of decision-making. First order of the day should be ascertaining that Saanich citizens want a casino, which he doubts, and the likely problems that would come with it, before putting forth locations. Wergeland is concerned that the very people who can least afford gambling would end up losing money on it. The municipality “can always use two million bucks,” he said, “but is that where I want to get our infrastructure dollars? No.”

A 2013 report from B.C. health officer Dr. Perry Kendall cited the most consistent social impacts of casinos as “increased problem gambling and associated harms [e.g., bankruptcy, divorce, suicide], increased crime and increased socio-economic inequality.”

On April 11, B.C. announced a Joint Illegal Gaming Investigation Team “to disrupt organized crime and gang involvement in illegal gaming and prevent criminals from using B.C. gaming facilities to legalize the proceeds of crime.” It will combine 22 police officers and four Ministry of Finance investigators.

On the up side, View Royal Mayor David Screech said that the town is able to fund the land purchase payments of $240,000 annually out of $1.9 million it received from casino funds last year. The casino’s revenues were about $45 million. “We use it for grants in aid, capital projects, Greater Victoria Public Library and West Shore Parks and Rec,” Screech said.

“The right project in the right location would get my support,” said Coun. Susan Brice, given the financial cut from the provincial corporation. “This could provide a significant revenue source for any number of community benefits, but there is considerable process to go through with the public.”

The BCLC said the region can support more than the 600 slot machines and 13 kinds of table games at the Island Highway casino, suggesting a second site with 300 to 400 slot machines and up to 10 gaming tables, if tables are included, after reviewing municipalities’ responses to its questions.

West Shore mayors said the region isn’t big enough to support two casinos and accuse the corporation of failing in its promises to expand the existing View Royal casino. Great Canadian Casinos’ planned $20-million expansion to provide entertainment options available at River Rock Casino in Delta — with rock band Chicago and singers Donny and Marie Osmond on stage within the next week — are on hold until the question of a second casino is settled.