After several discussions at the city council level over the past year, the public will have their voices heard in a public hearing to help determine whether to bring a casino to Victoria.
But that hearing wonB次元官网网址檛 take place for several months. B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Gaming Control Act requires the City of Victoria to grant formal approval for a casino before a gaming license can be issued, and any proposal must first go through B次元官网网址渁dequate community input.B次元官网网址� A separate public hearing is required for a rezoning application.
Sitting as committee of the whole Thursday, council voted to combine the two engagement sessions into one public hearing, giving residents the chance to debate a proposal B次元官网网址� when one comes forward B次元官网网址� not just the moral and ethical views of casinos.
B次元官网网址淭hey (the applicant) would be able to present to the public some of what they perceive the benefits of legalized gaming and those benefits would likely be the attraction of tourists and locals and the associated tax revenues, which we could use for any number of purposes,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Geoff Young during the meeting.
B次元官网网址淭hat type of debate that combines the moral and ethical issues with the practical issues is a preferable approach.B次元官网网址�
Coun. Pamela Madoff supports the nature of public engagement, but is prepared for the hearing to be B次元官网网址渁n extremely emotional process,B次元官网网址� with stories of dealing with gambling addiction likely part of the input.
Some council members are open to the idea of a gaming facility in the city if it benefits the community.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not wildly enthusiastic about a casino, but IB次元官网网址檓 open to seeing a new hotel with a casino inside,B次元官网网址� Mayor Lisa Helps said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 willing to keep my mind open to that.B次元官网网址�
Coun. Ben Isitt said public engagement should have started 18 months ago, and made his own views clear about casinos. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just a waste of land, though. Why would we allow someone to build a space full of electronic equipment to suck people into it to stare at screens,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not the type of activity we want in this community.B次元官网网址�
The highly controversial issue began last year when the British Columbia Lottery Corporation selected Victoria over Saanich as the preferred municipality to host a second gaming facility in the region. Shortly after, the city submitted an expression of interest, identifying Crystal Gardens and the adjacent Apex site as potential sites for a casino.
BCLC is still in the process of selecting a service provider to operate and find a location for a casino, but has narrowed the list to four, including Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (which operates the View Royal facility), Gateway Casinos, Changes Gaming Entertainment and Gamehost Inc. A decision is expected by fall.
Local governments that host a casino or gaming facility receive a 10-per-cent share of the provinceB次元官网网址檚 net gaming income generated by the facility. In 2014, View Royal received more than $4 million in gaming revenue from its casino B次元官网网址� money that funded library services and other community programs.
