Citizens in Kitchener and Waterloo will now get to have their say on a potential casino in either of their cities.
Councillors in both cities voted Monday night in favour of opening public discussion on the issue, a necessary step before the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. would consider either city as a potential host municipality.
The decisions came after efforts by the Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce to get councillors to consider the idea of public consultation.
But in Kitchener, tensions were high between councillors and Chamber of Commerce president Ian McLean.
Some councillors suggested the Chamber had motives other than simply allowing for public consultation and should have come to Monday night’s council meeting with more facts in hand.
“I don’t understand why they wanted to try and have a fight with the Chamber of Commerce,” McLean told CTV.
“All we’re talking about is public discussion and fact-based decision-making.”
Waterloo councillors also voted in favour of public consultation, which will be done via phone, mail and Internet feedback.
In Kitchener, a public consultation session has been scheduled for April 23.
Kitchener councillors also voted to suggest to the province that any casino in a two-tier municipality receive approval from both levels of government.
Woolwich Township is the other Waterloo Region municipality interested in a casino. Councillors voted in favour of pursuing a casino earlier this month despite commissioning a public survey in which the majority of respondents voiced opposition to the idea.
Centre Wellington Township, which already has slot machines at Grand River Raceway, has also expressed interest in expanded their gambling presence.
Meanwhile, councillors in Cambridge decided not to consider public consultation or a casino, refusing to even let Cambridge Chamber of Commerce president Greg Durocher make a case for it.
“I’m very disappointed. I think they could have atleast given me the opportunity to express the Chamber’s concern … express the reasons why we think we need to stay in the game,” he said.
