Ajax fighting loss of slots
Ajax town officials say they didn’t know their casino would be moving to Pickering until Examiner article was published
AJAX - Mayor Steve Parish is calling a decision to close the slots operation in Ajax as “devious, backhanded and deceitful,” a decision the municipality says its officials didn’t know about until reading about it in the Peterborough Examiner.
On Feb. 7, The Examiner reported provincial Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister and Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal as saying, at a Peterborough County council meeting, that three gaming sites, including Ajax, would have the slots removed.
A town spokeswoman said officials have reached out to the Ontario Lottery Gaming, but Parish said Thursday that town officials had still not heard back.
OLG officials could not be immediately reached for comment.
Parish said the Town was especially upset it found out about the developments through the media and not being told beforehand by the provincial government or Great Canadian Gaming, the B.C.-based company selected to operate gaming sites in the GTA, which also operates the Slots at Kawartha Downs in Fraserville as well as the casinos in Belleville and Gananoque, and is building the new casino in Peterborough.
On Monday, Ajax council passed a motion calling for a third-party review of plans for the slots.
“Hiding the truth is the same thing as lying. I expected more from the government and more from our MPP (Joe Dickson),” Parish said.
“I’ve been in politics a long time and I’ve never seen anything so devious, backhanded and deceitful. It’s unbelievable,” he added. “In politics, I’ve seen devious, but this takes the cake.”
The town plans to fight to keep the casino, he said, adding it will be a major issue locally during the upcoming provincial election.
“It may be better to have an alternative government. This government is devious. We’ll fight this all the way,” Parish said.
Wards 3 and 4 Regional Councillor Colleen Jordan tweeted, “Huge impact on the community - No consultation! Why the secrecy? What’s to hide? Open & transparent process is expected by the public and @TownOfAjax”
Since the Slots at Ajax Downs (recently renamed Casino Ajax) opened in 2006, Ajax has received $75.1 million. In 2016, Ajax received $7.6 million.
The Town uses the money to fund some capital projects, social infrastructure and to reduce the amount of money that needs to be borrowed for projects.
At it’s meeting on Monday, Ajax council unanimously endorsed a third-party review of casino proposals in Ajax and Pickering, including a cost-benefit analysis.
“We need to see those numbers. I’m sure the Ajax site will stand head and shoulders over other sites,” Wards 1 and 2 regional Coun. Shaun Collier said.
“I see this as the most important thing in Ajax in the next provincial election,” Collier added.
A proposal has been put forward by Pickering and the Triple Group of Companies to develop a new casino at Church and Bayly streets in Pickering. It’s called Durham Live and could also include a fivestar hotel, performing arts centre, a convention centre, waterpark, commercial operations and an outdoor amphitheatre.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming recently announced the British Columbia based Great Canadian Gaming will operate the casinos in Ajax, at Woodbine Race Track and Great Blue Heron Casino in Port Perry.
Finance Minister Charles Sousa said Thursday that no decision has been made yet on a new casino to replace the Slots at Ajax Downs.
“Regardless of what happens, we remain committed to the continued operations of Ajax Downs and quarterhorse racing in Ontario,” Sousa said in a statement.
“Our government recognizes that horse racing is an important part of Ontario’s heritage and plays an important role in creating jobs in communities all across the province.”
Ajax-Pickering MPP Joe Dickson also said Thursday that the Ontario government is committed to keeping the Ajax Downs track operating, but offered no specifics.
-- with Peterborough Examiner files