Last year, a casino developer asked the city council of North Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada if slot machines could be installed at the Shipyards. The council debated and rejected the request to overturn its bylaw forbidding commercial gaming. But recently the council approved a non-binding “expression of interest” to the B.C. Lottery Corporation, which recently asked the North Shore’s three municipalities and two First Nations if they would consider hosting a gaming facility. BCLC issued a July 15 deadline for a response.
A North Shore casino would generate $1.5-$2.2 million annually, a 10 percent share of revenue, according to BCLC estimates. Councilwoman Holly Back said, “I truly believe we will get one in North Vancouver, whether it’s in the city or on band lands. I’d rather see the money in our purse than theirs.” Back spoke with council members in Burnaby and Richmond who told her, “They both said they’ve had absolutely zero problems. In fact, they’re probably the best tenants they have in their city. Everybody has this vision of this big scary thing and it’s not. They actually can be quite beautiful.”
Councilwoman Linda Buchanan changed her vote to support the new proposal because, she said, “The previous application was very specifically wanting to go on public property and we were very adamant, and I’m still very adamant, I would not support anything being on our waterfront. We have numerous gaming facilities throughout the province, so I’d like to see something in terms of data that’s far more relevant than the early 1990s because we don’t make any decisions based on science that’s particularly that old.”
Mayor Darrell Mussatto both voted in favor, stating, “I think we should at least look at the pros and cons to see how it would benefit or hurt the city.”
However, some council members remained opposed to a casino. Councilman Don Bell said, “Since this issue became public, I think I’ve had one letter of support and I’ve had several indicating concern. I personally think it’s an opportunity but there’s a cost associated with it as well and so I won’t be supporting the motion.”
Councilwoman Pam Bookham added, “I find myself concerned that the province is pushing this upon our community without regard to the message that I thought we sent quite unambiguously the last time we discussed gaming in the city and indicated we were in fact not in favor. This is about the province generating revenue through gaming, something that when they were first elected, they were adamant they were not going to do.” Councilman Rod Clark said the province’s chief medical health officer and the North Shore’s public health officer both have spoken out against expanded gambling.
Squamish Nation Chief Ian Campbell said his council felt hosting a private casino would not be a good use of reservation land. “Our desire or aspiration is to look at partnering or equity or having a license directly to First Nations. That opportunity has not been afforded to Squamish Nation and we continue to push that issue with B.C. Lotto Corporation,” he said.
