Shorelines Slots at Kawartha Downs closed for about two weeks

FRASERVILLE — Doors to the Shorelines Slots at Kawartha Downs operation in Fraserville were closed Monday for a temporary closure that Ontario Lottery and Gaming says will last for about two weeks.

While union officials feared the temporary closure would result in layoffs, Ontario Lottery and Gaming said in a statement Monday afternoon that no employee has been, or will be, laid off as a result of the closure.

“We look forward to the relaunch of Shorelines Slots at Kawartha Downs in approximately two weeks time,” Ontario Lottery and Gaming stated, “and we thank the community for their patience.”

The closure is needed to allow renovations so that the Shorelines Slots at Kawartha Downs can continue to operate with 150 of its previous 500 slot machines, Labour Minister and HaliburtonKawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott explained.

“We look forward to the Slots at Kawartha Downs reopening in two weeks,” Scott stated.

“I am pleased that OLG is working with Kawartha Downs to mitigate the impact on employees of this temporary closure.”

It remained unclear Monday afternoon whether workers will be paid during the rest of the two-week closure.

The Service Employees International Union Local 2 had issued a statement Monday stating that Kawartha Downs employees are “shocked and reeling” over potential layoffs from the temporary closure.

The members of Service Employees International Union Local 2 were told last week that Kawartha Downs and the province had reached a deal to keep 150 slot machines at the Fraserville facility after Monday’s opening of the new Shorelines Casino Peterborough, operated by Great Canadian Gaming.