March 9, 2009
The Surrey Civic Coalition is opposed to SurreyFirst's plan to have slots in the heart of Newton Town Centre.
SCC Vice President Stephanie Ryan said the mayor’s group plans to go ahead with an application that would see a mini-casino at the site of the Newton bingo hall.
Ryan pointed out that the SCC has supported the city's existing gaming policy which allows for slot machines only in resort-style destination casinos.
Ryan said, "We think it's wrong that the City made a real effort to develop a comprehensive and sustainable gaming policy, and that Council is now eager to ignore it completely in the name of political opportunism."
Ryan acknowledged that most SurreyFirst councillors have voiced their support for the public hearing process and not necessarily for the development application itself, but expressed doubt that SurreyFirst “would dare to disappoint the developer by voting against the lucrative slot machines.”
Ryan acknowledged many social service agencies in Surrey rely on funding from similar community gaming services, calling this “a tragedy. It's high time the provincial government found more innovative ways of providing adequate funding for the community social services in this province.”
SCC believes “it's wrong that the province relies on gambling and gaming addiction to fund the agencies that help those community members most in need, many of them with addictions themselves", said Ryan.
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