Study on casino proposal in Ontario blocked by council
An economic impact study on a potential casino in North Bay won’t happen without a motion from council.
Canada.- The Blue Sky Bingo Hall Charities Association has appeared before council several times in recent months, pressing city politicians to conduct a study of the affects of a casino in the city. However, the economic impact study on a potential casino in North Bay won’t happen without a motion from council.
Mayor Al McDonald said a motion would have to be tabled for the matter to go before council, which would take the will of at least two members. He added that a majority of council would then have to vote in favour of the study for it to move ahead and that such study would cost more than CAD50,000 (US$ 38,739.)
Fear of a casino going to a neighbouring community was a key reason city politicians voted in favour of becoming willing host in 2012. The council of the day was concerned the city would be burdened with all of the costs associated with a casino but none of the revenue. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG,) although it has been specific about where it wants new casinos to be built it had refused to say if that would be the case.
“The challenge remains that if we don’t take it, it will just go to another municipality,” expressed McDonald, suggesting a casino could still end up in the area even if North Bay were to decide it is no longer interested in becoming a host community.
