First Capital Realty sent a letter yesterday to the Mayor and members of the Executive Committee of the City of Toronto. In it, Dori J. Segal, president and Chief Executive Officer writes; “We strongly urge City Council to reject the resolution for a casino. It is very important that both the OLG and the City are completely transparent and compliant with Provincial legislation and regulatory policy with respect to decisions about a casino in Toronto.”
Read the letter below:
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Dear Mayor and Members of the Executive Committee, |
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I am writing to convey First Capital Realty’s serious concern about the conditional resolution proposed by the Executive Committee for a vote on a casino at the next City Council meeting. The proposed conditional resolution does not comply with the requirements of Regulation 81/12, Requirements for the Establishment of a Gaming Site. |
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Regulation 81/12, which replaced the referendum mechanism, is intended to give City Council control over the casino approval process! A vote under Regulation 81/12 is Council’s only mechanism to approve a casino. |
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If Council votes yes to a resolution under Regulation 81/12, it will no longer have any say whatsoever in whether or not a casino will be established in Toronto. OLG will not be bound by any conditions that Council attaches to a resolution supporting a casino – OLG will merely “consider” those conditions. Moreover, under Regulation 81/12, the City is not permitted to withdraw or alter its vote in support of a casino if OLG does not comply with the City’s conditions. In fact, even City staff in its report expresses concern and says a conditional resolution is “not specifically contemplated in the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Act” and is “unprecedented”. |
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We strongly urge City Council to vote NO on the proposed resolution for a casino. A vote YES on a conditional resolution for a casino does not comply with Provincial legislation and First Capital Realty is prepared to take all necessary steps to challenge that outcome. |
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Respectfully, |
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Dori J. Segal |
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