Casino never discussed with city, mayor says
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/05/2019 (2431 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A gaming centre was never part of discussions for a new urban reserve on the north end of Brandon, Mayor Rick Chrest said Saturday.
“Certainly, the notion of a casino was … never on the table,” Chrest said. “That was never, really, part of the First Nation’s plan.”
The First Nation held a groundbreaking ceremony on the site of the new urban reserve on 18th Street Friday.
A conceptual rendering of the urban reserve sent out to media by city economic development director Sandy Trudel — and printed by The Brandon Sun Saturday — shows a gas bar and gaming centre close to 18th Street. Farther back on the lot is a hotel tower and multiple retail and office spaces.
However, in another rendering distributed during the ceremony, the words ‘gaming centre’ and the word ‘gaming’ on the side of a building do not appear.
Trudel said Saturday the error was hers, and she had sent out the wrong version of the rendering the first time. The first rendering had been done by the First Nation much earlier in the planning process, she said.
She added discussions she had with the First Nation never included a gaming centre.
“The question of ‘Was a casino on the table ever in my discussions with the proponents?’ No, it wasn’t.”
Trudel added she is upset this has placed a negative light on a positive development for the city.
“What’s happening now is, the focus is going on to something that is irrelevant and … it’s losing sight of all the great benefits and opportunities that is coming from this project, not only for Gambler First Nation but for the community of Brandon itself.”
Though Gambler First Nation Chief David LeDoux could not be reached for comment Saturday, he did speak to the possibility of a gaming centre on the urban reserve following Friday’s groundbreaking ceremony.
In a scrum with reporters on Friday, LeDoux said: “We start with the first two projects within the month, hopefully, and those will be running by fall and then we’ll go from there.”
In response to a question about what the two projects are, LeDoux replied: “Gas bar and two little outlets beside it, then the gaming centre.”
In an email forwarded to the Sun from Trudel, Mik Cupial, director of economic development for Gambler First Nation, wrote: “Sandy Trudel from (the) City of Brandon mentioned you were enquiring with respect to the proposed project and specifically, the entertainment centre.
“GFN is currently reviewing options for this development alongside potential hotel partners so the usage is still not 100 per cent defined. There will be more news coming out on this over the coming weeks, so we will be sure to reach out to you at that time.”
Chrest said he and council are well-aware many Brandonites are opposed to having a casino built within city limits.
Residents voted against the construction of a casino during plebiscites in 2002 and 2008.
“They (the First Nation) realize it’s kind of a divisive issue,” Chrest said. “It’s a very polarizing thing, and they weren’t really interested in, you know, creating that kind of controversy. They wanted this to be a very positive development.”
Chrest noted the province, which licenses gaming centres, did a market study years ago and determined there was room for only one casino in the Westman area. After that, Sand Hills casino near Carberry opened.
» brobertson@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @BudRobertson4