Brandon Sun - PRINT EDITION
The casino debate is back on — in spades.
The City of Brandon says it has partnered with the Tribal Councils Investment Group to examine the financial case for a casino development on city-owned land.
Mayor Shari Decter Hirst has promised there will be no divisive plebiscite, and no urban reserve — both of these things are off the table.
But that hasn’t stopped the howls from folks who have had enough of debating casinos and have suggested that the mayor never mentioned revisiting this issue during the 2010 election campaign.
Was there any mention of a casino anywhere on her platform during the 2010 election campaign? While questions were asked by media on the issue — she always said she was a big proponent of economic development — it was indeed not a plank in her campaign.
However, she also never promised not to pursue one either. And if this municipal government ever has a shot at driving the casino conversation, now is the time.
More than a dozen years ago, the provincial NDP tasked a group called the First Nations Casino Project Selection Committee with the selection of up to five First Nations casino proposals in keeping with the findings of the Bostrom Report, which recommended casino and VLT developments as an economic development opportunity for Manitoba aboriginal bands.
At the present time, only two First Nation casinos are operating as a result of this process. A third — the Spirit Sands Casino project south of Carberry under the auspices of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs — appears to be having considerable difficulty finding financial backers.
Since the AMC broke ground at the site in early October 2010, there has been no construction on scene and the official opening date has been pushed back several times.
That leaves two licences, possibly three, still open for negotiation, unless of course the province decides to make a different deal with Brandon.
Over the years, Decter Hirst has made no bones about the fact that she supported the establishment of a casino in this city. She and her husband, Dr. Derry Decter, were both huge supporters of the yes campaign during the 2008 plebiscite debate.
At that time, Decter Hirst showed that she was very aware of the “long-term implications” of bringing a casino to this city. In a letter to the editor dated Jan. 10, 2008 — two months before the city-wide plebiscite — she expressed concerns about tax revenue, revenue sharing and the kind of casino development that be a good fit for this city.
“If the support of a casino is to be made on financial partnership opportunities, I would like tangible evidence that Brandon will have the opportunity to benefit with the casino,” she wrote. “Let’s open the books and evaluate both the financial and managerial performance of the casino owners.”
As such, she has been remarkably consistent.
It’s not as if this announcement comes out of the blue either. Last fall, the city included the words “gaming centres” in its new Secondary Land Use Plan for Brandon’s downtown.
It was a huge signal to the public that the pursuit of a casino in Brandon was about to be revived by a council, and especially a mayor, who were more receptive to the idea.
But when Waywayseecappo Chief Murray Clearsky last month announced that he and his partner chiefs in Rolling River and Keeseekoowenin wanted AMC to move the Spirit Sands project back to its originally intended location outside Brandon city limits, Decter Hirst says it was time for the city to make a move.
We happen to agree with her — having a casino “right on the doorstep of Brandon” would not be beneficial to the city. There would be no economic benefit, yet Brandon would still experience the social costs associated with gaming.
So if having a casino so close to Brandon is “inevitable” as she said during Thursday morning’s press conference, it’s better for the city to be part of the conversation, and have a say in where it goes and what it looks like.
Remember, this is just a conversation. Right now, the city and the TCIG are simply exploring options. As the Sun first reported, neither the city nor the TCIG have a casino or gaming licence at this point.
Nor have they consulted with the AMC and the provincial government about this particular proposal. While those conversations are still to come, the province may well say no.
But we hope Premier Greg Selinger will see the benefits to revisiting this question, albeit for a third time.
Done well, a casino complex in Brandon could be a boon to this city, and might go a long way to assuaging critics who have twice balked at previous proposals.
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition May 11, 2012
We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.
You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.
Rate it yourself by rolling over the stars and clicking when you reach your desired rating. We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high.
The Brandon Sun does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. Comments are moderated before publication. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The casino debate is back on — in spades.
The City of Brandon says it has partnered with the Tribal Councils Investment Group to examine the financial case for a casino development on city-owned land.
Already subscribed? Login to view full article.
Not yet a subscriber? Click Here to Signup
The casino debate is back on — in spades.
The City of Brandon says it has partnered with the Tribal Councils Investment Group to examine the financial case for a casino development on city-owned land.
A subscription to the Brandon Sun Newspaper is required to view this article. Please update your user information if you are already a newspaper subscriber.
Most Popular
Sort by: Newest to Oldest | Oldest to Newest | Most Popular 0 Comments
You can comment on most stories on brandonsun.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.