Close casino: report
Drummond outlines cost-cutting measures
One casino is enough. That’s what Don Drummond, former chief economist of the TD Bank, recommends in his long- awaited report to the Ontario government as it tries to find ways to reduce its $16-billion deficit.
Drummond, chairman of the Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services, presented his report to the public Wednesday, though the advice has been available to Premier Dalton Mcguinty and Liberal cabinet ministers for several weeks.
The 700-page report, which has been in the works for nearly a year, contains 362 recommendations.
“( Ontario Lottery and Gaming) operates two casinos in the Niagara area; it should close one,” says the executive summary of the report.
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said he knew the recommendation to close one of the casinos was coming, but he believes both facilities will remain open.
“We have a commitment from the premier. Our objective is that Casino Niagara goes through a rebranding,” he said. “We’ve been calling for this for some time. You don’t have to look any further than the sign out front with burnt-out letters to realize it has been neglected. It needs some sprucing up and it’s in need of a facelift.”
“The report makes recommendations, but the government makes decisions and there’s a distinction between the two. We’ve already received his word and I have no reason to think otherwise.”
Casino Niagara opened in 1996, while Fallsview Casino opened in 2004.
There are roughly 4,500 employees at Niagara Casinos.
The two casinos combined brought in nearly $ 600- million during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011, the last full year for which figures were available, according to www.olg.ca. That’s down about $18 million from the previous year.
Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor said Drummond’s report is no different than what one would see at other levels of government, including the Region or at city council, where they ask for a report when trying to balance the budget. Council is presented with a number of recommendations. Those recommendations get reviewed, everyone gives their advice before a decision is made.
“The one recommendation that I will definitely not support is the closing of Casino Niagara,” said Craitor. “I was the one who led the charge to convince the government to renew the con-
The one recommendation that I will definitely not support is the closing of Casino Niagara. I was the one who led the charge to convince the government to renew the contract even earlier than it should have been because it hadn’t expired yet and to give it a long-term agreement in order to show that casino was stable.”
Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor tract even earlier than it should have been because it hadn’t expired yet and to give it a longterm agreement in order to show that casino was stable.”
Craitor said it was done because they wanted to make sure the businesses that are operating in the area keep investing and to secure the jobs for those people who work at that location.
Craitor said he wasn’t surprised to see the recommendation, but he’s not supporting it.
“He was told to put anything in the report that he thought could help deal with the deficit. Everything was on the table, but there were certain things that we were not going to address.”
Greg Medulun, director of communications at Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara, said it’s important to note the Drummond report is only advice to the provincial government and no decisions have been made regarding the recommendations.
“As far as we are concerned, it’s business as usual at our two casino facilities and we continue to provide the excellent service our customers have come to expect,” he said.
Dino Dicienzo Jr., president of Canadian Niagara Hotels Inc., which is the landlord of the Falls Ave. property, said he didn’t have the opportunity to review the analysis surrounding the Drummond recommendation, however he is “confident that the decision of the premier and government to keep Casino Niagara open is the correct decision. It currently provides substantial benefits to the province and has the potential to drastically increase those benefits.”