The BCLC, otherwise known as the B.C. Lottery Corporation, asked three municipalities and two First Nations back in early June whether or not they would welcome in a new gambling facility within their community. Due to the response, North Vancouver’s governing body has decided to take up the proposed offer to host a newly built casino in the area.
This is a twist from what normally would have been expected from the city. Back in 2015, the city had a similar offer from a casino developer that was wanting to install slot machines on the waterfront within Northern Vancouver in which the city council members denied the request. The North Shore casino that would be built in the area expects to generate somewhere between $1.5 and $2.2 million each year in government taxes for the city. The decision came out positive due to the city not wanting to lose out on potential revenue from neighboring cities with gambling sites.
The North Shore casino that would be built in the area expects to generate somewhere between $1.5 and $2.2 million each year in government taxes for the city. The decision came out positive due to the city not wanting to lose out on potential revenue from neighboring cities with gambling sites.
Councilwoman Holly Back is a member of the city council that was against the idea of adding slot machines a year ago but now supports having a casino rejoin the city. She, among other members, had discussed both the benefits and cons of having a casino come up in the city and whether or not it would be worth it, with the outcome being that the positives were vast while the negatives were slim and unlikely. Feedback from research into the matter showed that there would be no problems with adding in a new casino which would also generate capital for the city and state, create more jobs in the area, bring about more tourism from outside regions, and add more event opportunities.
Feedback from research into the matter showed that there would be no problems with adding in a new casino which would also generate capital for the city and state, create more jobs in the area, bring about more tourism from outside regions, and add more event opportunities.
Along with Back comes Linda Buchanan, who has also opposed to the idea a year ago but changed her mind after reviewing the potential positives of adding in a casino for the city. She is now for hosting a casino in the city, mainly because it doesn’t take up waterfront property like the last developer wanted and wouldn’t be developed on public property. The Mayor Darrell Mussatto as well as Councilman Craig Keating are both in agreement of the new facility and have entered into a non-binding agreement back to the BCLC to allow for the casino to take root in Northern Vancouver.
She is now for hosting a casino in the city, mainly because it doesn’t take up waterfront property like the last developer wanted and wouldn’t be developed on public property. The Mayor Darrell Mussatto as well as Councilman Craig Keating are both in agreement of the new facility and have entered into a non-binding agreement back to the BCLC to allow for the casino to take root in Northern Vancouver.
The Mayor Darrell Mussatto as well as Councilman Craig Keating are both in agreement of the new facility and have entered into a non-binding agreement back to the BCLC to allow for the casino to take root in Northern Vancouver.
This doesn’t mean that everyone is quite on board with the idea, as many members of the city council are still actively opposed to adding a casino to the city. Councilwoman Don Bell has stated that the city got a lot of letters of concern from citizens that are against it. Pam Bookham, another council member, advised that the city “pay attention to the voice of municipality.” She stated that the government was initially against generating revenue from gaming in the area and were adamant about their decision, but this seems to no longer be the case.
Pam Bookham, another council member, advised that the city “pay attention to the voice of municipality.” She stated that the government was initially against generating revenue from gaming in the area and were adamant about their decision, but this seems to no longer be the case.
The city appears to think that now is a good time to add in gaming revenue, so expect to see this new casino shortly.