Ontario casino gets regulatory approval

Gateway has received the Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s approval to develop a casino in Wasaga, Ontario, branded Cascades.

Canada.- Gateway has finally received the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation approval to develop a Wasaga casino and entertainment facility. The venue will operate under the name Cascades and the company will soon announce its opening date.

Gateway spokesperson Robert Mitchell said they will disclose branding, investment and jobs information for the Ontario casino soon.

Opposition

Coun. Joe Belanger expressed concerns about the proposed agreement on the site. He said he has made a request to the mayor to hold a public meeting related to the site plan. “I believe the local residents have never had an opportunity to have input into the project,” he said.

“There are enough residents who have expressed concern to me that it would be the transparent thing to do.”

Official response

Mayor Nina Bifolchi maintained they have followed the rules as there’s no requirement for a public meeting to discuss a site plan agreement.

“To request a meeting because the preferred site didn’t receive any more input would be going against (best) practice and would set a precedent,” she said. That way, she raised the point the municipality could open the public process up to the level of issuing a building permit. “At what point do we open it up so that the public has input on everything?

“By holding that forum and allowing input into something, or giving the public the mindset they could change something at this point, would not be accurate,” she said. “I realise there is a group in town who is not happy with the chosen location, but that is the chosen location and we followed a proper process to get to that point.”