News clips: W. Beach, Collingwood, Clearview, Springwater casino issue

By Emily Innes Collingwood Enterprise-Bulletin October 30, 2012 

A group of 36 health care professionals has signed a petition against the proposed casino.

Collingwood doctor Mark Quigg, during a public consultation meeting, told stories about adults who wear diapers to keep their place at a slot machine and cases where children have been left unattended while their parents gamble.

In the spring, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. unveiled a ‘modernization plan’ in the province, creating 29 zones in Ontario, including C7, an area that includes Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, and portions of Clearview and Springwater townships.

The four regions hosted a public consultation meeting on Oct. 16 in Wasaga Beach where OLG representatives gave a presentation to the crowd of more than 500 people. Following the presentation the mayors acted as proxies to ask questions for the audience and after some took the microphone to express their position on the casino.

John Hamilton, a certified psychotherapist at Renewed Hope Counselling Service in Wasaga Beach, was among those who signed the petition.

“In my own practice, dealing with people with gambling addiction, I was well aware of the affect of bankruptcy, suicide, (and) family devastation,” Hamilton told the E-B last week in an interview.

He has done extensive research on gambling addiction for his patients, but since learning about the possibility of a casino in the region he has been calling professionals in the field, the OLG, and gathering statistics.

Health care professionals are concerned about problems the casino could bring because they are the front-line responders, said Hamilton.

He has treated people with the addiction and he said a recurring trend is a high level of shame and secrecy.

He said one woman’s husband was a problem gambler and when she told Hamilton, at 91, he was the first person she had told during her 65 years of marriage. He said the ripple affect is upwards of 10 people being impacted by a person afflicted with the addiction.

He has been in contact with Paul Welsh, the Executive Director of Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services, who gave a presentation on Oct. 2 to the city of Ottawa, which has also expressed interest in a casino; Ottawa is in zone E4.

The Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services clinic gathered data on 514 clients with respect to gambling losses.

The study showed an average monthly loss of $2,150 for six months prior to treatment, and consequences included suicide, neglect of children, and lifelong poverty.

According to CAMH Problem Gambling Institute of Ontario’s website, 1.2% to 3.4% of Ontarians are affected by moderate to severe gambling problems.

The OLG responds to gambling addiction by investing $40 million annually to treatment through research and counselling.

“I think the Ontario society has been duped,” said Hamilton. “Why would we ever as a society accept a product that is going to require millions of dollars spent for treatment? To me that is beyond logic.”

Hamilton said five times the amount allocated to treatment is put into advertising, with $265 million spent annually by the OLG on marketing.

He said he has heard the argument, “It’s going to come somewhere in our zone, so we will take it,” which he equates to considering taking a bomb because it will end up somewhere in the area.

“It is illogical,” he said.

Along with the petition, Hamilton provided recommendations and counter proposals for the project such as a community centre with a theatre.

“Think very hard about entering a partnership with an organization that has to spend $40 million a year to help solve the problems that it creates. It just doesn’t make sense to me,” said Mike Lewin, a Collingwood family doctor who treats patients in all four communities, during the public consultation meeting.

 

John Edwards Barrie Advance Oct 29, 2012 

COLLINGWOOD – Georgian Manor Resort is going all in, in its efforts to bring a casino to Collingwood. 

The resort held a public open house on Saturday where it presented its plans for a proposed casino for the resort.

John Simmonds, CEO for Georgian Manor, is experienced in the gaming industry. He opened a casino called Tioga Downs in Nicholls, New York, several years ago.

“They (OLG) say they want a casino in that area. The only way a casino gets in that area is if the local municipalities rezone the property to allow for the casino in that area,” he said. 

Simmonds believes that if both Collingwood and Wasaga Beach approve a casino for the community, it would become a “beauty contest.”

“I’m confident that the beauty contest would be ours to win,” he said. 

“You’ve got a resort in the western part of the footprint. Much closer proximity to not only Blue Mountain and the village but to Owen Sound, Meaford and Thornbury. All traffic will be coming from the west because to the east you already have Georgian Downs and Casino Rama. Why put it in the eastern part of the footprint? If it becomes a contest, we have a lot to offer.”

Simmonds said the resort has plans to expand by 180 rooms but if it becomes the operator of the slot machines, it also plans to build two nightclubs, restaurants and a 400-800-seat performing arts centre.

He expects the plan would cost between $20 and $30 million. Simmonds says they have 21,000 square feet of space – some of which could be home to slot machines.

“We actually have options on adjacent lands,” he said. “If someone had 300 machines coming on Monday, I’d have one of the rooms ready.”

Simmonds said the performing arts centre is a key component to the plan. The facility is expected to cost $8-$10 million and would be available for use by the community.

“This is all about the community,” he said. “Every casino destination needs entertainment. This business model is slanted towards entertainment not gaming.”

In addition to live entertainment, Simmonds said the organization has hologram technology that could produce concerts and shows from any famous act – living or dead.

“If you’re in the audience, this appears to be absolutely real. And we can put people alive or dead. We could produce a Michael Jackson Thriller concert  – him moon walking on stage,” he said. 

Simmonds said the company also plans to put $300,000 annually towards community causes such as local sports organizations and the hospital.

“We want to give back to the community,” he said. 

Simmonds questions whether Wasaga Beach has the infrastructure to host a casino such as hotels and restaurants. He said it would take years to construct that type of infrastructure along with the casino.

Simmonds said the big money is in casinos that are located within resorts. He said four resorts in Ontario do $1.2 billion in revenue. Slots at 14 racetracks do $1.5 billion.

“We want to make people aware that there is an option,” he said.  “We can take full advantage of the OLG’s desire to bring slots to this community.”

He estimates there would also be an additional $20 million brought to the local economy.

“This would be a big boon to the economy,” he said.

Simmonds compared a potential Collingwood facility to Innisfil – which he said has generated $48 million for the municipality over the last decade.

“It’s not a negative for the community, it’s a big positive,” he said. 

However, not everyone agrees with Simmonds. At a recent meeting in Wasaga Beach, local doctors spoke about the dangers associated with gambling such as addiction and poverty.

Simmonds believes the OLG is aware of the issues and is confident they are willing to assist communities in dealing with those issues.

“There is going to be a gaming facility in this general municipality,” he said.  “This is the Ontario government. This isn’t someone who is trying to get every last dime out of people.”

Simmonds said his organizations would also contribute to help deal with these issues.

Business community shows support for casino

By Emily Innes, Collingwood Enterprise-Bulletin October 26, 2012 

WASAGA BEACH – Business community members voiced a strong desire to have Wasaga council approve the proposed casino during a public consultation meeting.

Nearly 300 members of the community headed to the RecPlex on Wednesday, Oct. 24 to hear from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming, ask questions, and address council members about the proposed 300-slot machine facility.

OLG representatives Rick Gray, Jake Pastore, and Paul Pellizzari gave the same 30-minute presentation as the one from the first meeting held Oct. 16 for the entire zone, which also includes Collingwood, Clearview Township, and Springwater Township.

“The hospitality is second to none here in Wasaga Beach,” said Pastore, receiving a big applause from the audience

After the presentation, 13 people took to the microphone with all but three who were in favour of the casino – a difference from the last meeting where mostly those opposed made a statement.

Mark Bannerman, President of the Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce, presented council with a letter stating 88.5% of their members are in favour of the casino.

Jamie Anderson, owner of Anderson Edgewater Cottages, represented the Wasaga Beach Business Association who say they are in favour of the casino because of the potential economic benefits in the form of increased revenue, the town becoming a year-round destination, new businesses, and the possibility to add new recreational facilities.

“This is the best opportunity that Wasaga Beach has seen in many years and we are asking that the mayor and the members of council seize this opportunity,” said Anderson.

OLG representatives say the casino could generate $20-million in revenue. The host facility will receive 5.2% on the first $65-million.

Troy Vaine, the owner of Dyconia Hotel, said a casino could boost the tourism facilities, accommodations, and amenities.

“Currently in Wasaga beach, most of the hotels, including the one I own, are closed in the winter, because they have to, there is not enough business in the winter to carry them through the winter. If we want new, modern and upgraded hotels, restaurants, and entertainment locations than we need a casino to make it happen,” he said.

Vaine said there are benefits to creating jobs in the community including managers, chefs, security, maintenance, and hosts.

“With wages like this, we will see a lot of Wasaga Beach residents be given the opportunity to own homes, to drive modern cars, to be able to provide their families with luxuries in life they do not currently have.”

OLG estimates the facility will create about 90 jobs, ranging from hourly wages to salary positions. OLG’s wages vary between facilities, but officials say they offer competitive wages and benefits.

Wasaga Beach resident and business owner Roger Gray said a lot of Wasaga’s business goes to Blue Mountain Village and he does not want that to happen with the casino.

“If our council votes ‘no’ for this, it doesn’t mean it isn’t go to go into C7. If it doesn’t go here, I’m sure Collingwood will take it and they will take something else from us,” he said.

Gray said the casino is a form of entertainment and the small per centage of those with a gambling addiction should not outweigh the positives the casino could bring.

Current statistics show in Ontario 3.4% of the adult population in the province has a moderate or severe gambling problem.

Pellizzari, OLG director of policy and social responsibility, said $40 million in annual revenues is allocated to problem gambling, including $28 million directly to counselling and $4 million to $5 million on academic research.

However, there were still those that spoke out in opposition to the casino concerned about gambling addiction which can lead to bankruptcy, child neglect, and sometimes suicides.

“This is a cash cow that lacks concern for real health, social health, and human health for our people and there are better suggestions,” said priest Jim Seagram, who also addressed the crowd at the first meeting.

The public survey and the OLG Powerpoint presentation can be found online at http://www.wasagabeach.com/Gaming_Facility.index.gk. The survey is open until Friday, Oct. 26.

Collingwood will be hosting a public consultation meeting Oct. 29 at Leisure Time Centre on Minnesota Street at 4 p.m.

The deadline for councils to reply to the OLG is Nov. 16.

 

By Trina Berlo Barrie Advance Oct 25, 2012 

WASAGA BEACH – The Wasaga Beach business community rallied last night in support of a casino in the beach, asking Wasaga council to vote in favour of a resolution that will position the municipality as a contender. 

At a public meeting intended to hear from Wasaga Beach residents and business owners Oct. 24 at the RecPlex, Chamber of Commerce president Mark Bannerman said in a survey of member businesses, 88.5 per cent indicated support for the casino.

Jamie Anderson said members of the Wasaga Beach Business Association are also in favour.

About 400 people were at the meeting that closely followed the format of one held the previous week jointly with Collingwood, Springwater Township and Clearview Township.

Representatives from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) Corporation gave an overview and took questions from the public, through Mayor Cal Patterson, before the audience had their chance to comment.

During a show of hands, many indicated they had attended both meetings, the first of which attracted an audience of about 500 people.

While those in opposition to the casino were most vocal during last week’s open mic session, the opposite was true last night with the majority of the 10 speakers urging council to consider the economic benefits of a casino.

“To see an opportunity like this, it is a real blessing,” said Stonebridge developer Mark Crowe, referring to the lack of other local industry. “You look at a municipality like Wasaga beach and there aren’t a lot of opportunities like this. I strongly encourage Wasaga Beach to proceed with this and give it a positive vote.”

Rick Gray of the OLG said the local facility could generate $20-million in revenue.

Resident Chris Olson cautioned council, saying the numbers are confusing the issue.

“This facility is going to absorb people’s disposable income,” he said, adding people will spend their money at the slots instead of patronizing local businesses.

He said the casino will suck money out of the community and Wasaga Beach will get only a small cut.

“It’s bad economics, don’t do it,” said Olson.

Jim Seagram, minister at the Anglican Church in Wasaga Beach and Stayner, reiterated comments made last week by himself and others in the clergy and healthcare professionals about problem gambling and associated suicides.

A letter signed by more than 30 local doctors outlines concerns about gambling addictions and the affects it has on a community, especially when the temptation is so close to home.

Resident Steve Wallace said he believes he represents the silent majority in his support for the casino, saying at one point Wasaga Beach was the fastest growing community in the province and had a lot of momentum.

“We were going in the right direction,” said Wallace. “We have stagnated…We are starting to be known as the town that doesn’t have things.”

Some talked about the need to bring more accommodation options to Wasaga Beach, hoping that a hotel could be part of the casino development project and others talked about offering an attraction in the off season and on rainy days to keep people in Wasaga Beach and bolster local businesses that try to keep their doors open all year long, or would like to.

“Over the last little while we have lost a lot of business to the mountain,” said Wasaga Sands Golf Course owner Roger Gray. “If council votes no, it doesn’t mean [the casino] won’t go in C7. I am sure Collingwood will take it and they will take another thing away from us. We are better to have it on this side of the fence than the other side of the fence, not that they won’t get their share.”

Council members are now tasked with reviewing public input and looking at the results of a community survey.

In the near future, they will be asked to vote on a resolution as to whether or not the OLG is welcome to seek out a private operator that is willing to build and operate a casino with up to 300 slots and the potential for gaming tables.

OLG representatives said the municipality is able to dictate where the casino would be built.

Ultimately, the OLG decides who will operate the casino based on the best business plan.

 

John Edwards, Staff|Oct 25, 2012http://www.simcoe.com/news/article/1524790–collingwood-casino-meeting-monday

COLLINGWOOD –Casino or no casino?

Collingwood residents will have their say on this question this Monday.

Council is holding a public meeting at the Leisure Time Centre on Minnesota Street at 4 p.m.

The meeting was originally slated for the council chambers, but due to the large attendance at a meeting in Wasaga Beach, it was moved to the Leisure Time Centre to accommodate more residents.

A representative from OLG is expected to be on hand to offer information about the proposed gaming centre and then the public will have an opportunity to speak.

“I hope that we do have a good turnout and receive input from the public,” said Mayor Sandra Cooper.

Collingwood is in the C-7 zone, an area that has been determined to be an under serviced area by OLG and is a site for a potential gaming centre, featuring about 300 slots. Wasaga Beach, Clearview Township and Springwater Township are also in the C-7 zone.

The four municipalities have agreed to work together as a region when dealing with OLG.

Councillor Joe Gardhouse put forward a motion at the October 9 council meeting, suggesting Collingwood needed to hold this meeting and do a survey of residents as to whether they wanted to see a casino or not.

Several councillors have said they want to hear what they public has to say before stating a position on the casino.

Cooper is one of them.

“Certainly there was a lot of input at the Wasaga Beach one,” she  said.

The four municipalities held a public meeting last week where more than 500 people were on hand.

Several Collingwood doctors spoke out against a potential casino in the area.

“I think the social end of things, I think we’ll hear quite a bit of that,” said Cooper.

Cooper said after the meeting, Council will make a decision on whether they would like to see a casino in Collingwood by November 15.

By Emily Innes, Collingwood Enterprise-Bulletin October 17 2012 

WASAGA BEACH – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming public information session Tuesday evening drew the largest crowd officials say they have faced.

The RecPlex auditorium completely filled up at 7 p.m. to hear a presentation from the OLG about the proposed 300-slot machine for zone C7, which includes Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Clearview Township, and Springwater Township.

On stage, asking questions for the estimated audience of 500 citizens, were Wasaga Beach Mayor Cal Patterson, Collingwood Mayor Sandra Cooper, Clearview Township Mayor Ken Ferguson, and Springwater Township Mayor Linda Collins.

“This was a time for the community to get facts and ask questions and we were very happy with the turn out,” Tony Bitonti, senior manager of media relations for OLG, told the E-B. “The questions that we heard here tonight are the questions we are hearing across the province. We are happy to answer as many questions as possible and be here for as long as possible… We want to make sure that all decisions are fact-based decisions, not myth-based decisions.”

OLG representatives Rick Gray, Jake Pastore, and Paul Pellizzari provided a 30-minute presentation and then stayed to answer questions until 9 p.m., at which point the open mic session started and ran until 9:30.

Gray, OLG vice-president of gaming support, addressed background on OLG and the process of their modernization plan.

“(OLG) is a popular entertainment option for adult Ontarians with 83% of Ontarians participating in either lottery or gaming,” he said.

There are 29 potential gaming zones across the province based on a financial model to maximize revenue for the province.

In May, OLG launched a request for information in which they received more than 100 submissions and in late fall they will launch a procurement process to identify private sector service operators to operate gaming sites across the province.

“OLG will not put up a gaming facility in any community that does not want one. That’s why we are going through a process to establish support in municipalities,” said Pastore, OLG senior manager of community and municipal relations.

Pastore says there are currently 24 communities with facilities and 18 mayors have submitted testimonial videos to the modernolg.ca website, and six police chiefs say there has been no increase in crime from having a casino.

The question was asked if any of the mayors gave negative responses:

“Only positives, no negatives,” responded Patterson, who says he has spoken with many mayors of cities or towns hosting gaming facilities.

The host municipality will receive 5.2% on the first $65 million of profit generated from the casino and after that the percentage decreases.

“The other 94.8%, where does that go?” was asked.

Pastore said the other profits go to paying wages, compensating the private sector operators, responsible gambling programs, amateur sports, and charities.

“All the money to the province, goes back to the people in Ontario,” he said.

Pellizzari, OLG director of policy and social responsibility, said $40 million in annual revenues is allocated to problem gambling programs, including $28 million directly to counselling and $4 million to $5 million on academic research.

Current statistics show in Ontario 3.4% of the adult population in the province has a moderate or severe gambling problem.

“This is significant because we need to understand as an operator what we can do about that. This is an activity and a product that has a negative impact for a small percentage of the population and it matters a lot to us,” said Pellizzari.

“It matters a lot because we are an agency of government. We have a statutory, a regulatory, and a policy mandate to be a gold standard leader in responsible gambling.”

He said OLG trains staff to identify red-flag behavioural signs and has a voluntary exclusion program, which has a facial detection system to remove those who have excluded themselves from a gambling premises. OLG has on-site centres staffed with gambling addiction prevention experts.

Patterson said the four communities have signed a memorandum of understanding to be “good neighbours.”

They have not yet determined what portion of the revenue would go to neighbouring municipalities, but a deal would be negotiated to offset costs of wear and tear to roads from increased traffic and policing costs.

Patterson and Cooper said they would try to prevent a casino locating on the waterfront owned by their municipalities, and Pastore said the municipality retains control through the zoning process to determine where the casino should be located.

“I am only one of seven councillors in the Town of Wasaga Beach, but I would not support a casino anywhere near the beachfront,” said Patterson, triggering applause from the audience.

There could also be the potential to have some table games if the private sector can support them. The facility is estimated to create about 90 jobs, ranging from hourly wages to salary positions. OLG’s wages vary between facilities, but officials say they offer competitive wages and benefits.

If all municipalities show interest in having a casino, the location will be determined based on the private sector’s proposals.

To date, about 11 sites have been identified as potential locations for the casino.

Officials say the process of receiving the casino could take upwards of three years.

During the open-mic portion, physicians, pastors, and citizens expressed concerns about social impacts and mental health issues.

“From the spiritual community, all of the leaders that I am in touch with are with one voice saying that this is unhealthy, the net is a net poverty, a net hurt, not a net gain. Please don’t discredit or discount the voice of these mental health, physical health, spiritual health leaders,” said Jim Seagram, a reverend from Clearview Township.

Seagram urged people to fill out the casino survey online at www.wasagabeach.com/Gaming_Facility.index.gk.

“Think very hard about entering a partnership with an organization that has to spend $40 million a year to help solve the problems that it creates. It just doesn’t make sense to me,” said Mike Lewin, a Collingwood family doctor who treats patients in all four communities.

Wasaga Beach is hosting a public meeting regarding the proposed casino on Oct. 24 and Collingwood’s meeting is scheduled for Oct. 29. The deadline to apply to OLG is Nov. 16.

 by Catherine Thompson Bayshore Broadcasting October 17, 2012

The possibility of a casino in the area brought a lot of concerned people to a joint public meeting in Wasaga Beach.

As many as 500 people came out to the Rec Plex on Tuesday to hear from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.

Following a presentation from OLG officials, the mayors of Wasaga Beach, Collingwood and Clearview and Springwater Townships read out a number of questions submitted on a form provided and either answered themselves or turned the question over to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming representatives.

That took two hours at which time most in the audience left, but some stayed to hear from seven people who took to the microphone to ask questions of the four mayors.

The meeting lasted two and a half hours in total.

Most of the concerns, both in written form and in person, centred on the social issues and impact on area doctors and hospitals who may be treating problem gamblers.

Reverend Jim Seagram of the Anglican Parish of Stayner/Wasaga Beach spoke out at the meeting. He says there will be a host of damage that he believes OLG minimizes.

Seagram says money will go out of the community while problems affecting children, families and marriages will increase.

OLG officials did say that there would be time and money limits put on the slot machines to try to curb problem gambling.

The other main concern from the audience was whether the revenue would go back into the community.

OLG says the host community would get five percent of the revenue from a casino.

Wasaga Beach Mayor Cal Patterson says as far as he’s concerned the decisions would be made by the council of the day during the budget process as to how the money should be spent in the community.

Most of those who asked questions or made comments seem to be quite concerned about the idea of a casino in the area.

But not Pina Thomas of Wasaga Beach. She has a young family and believes a casino will create much needed jobs in the area and there needs to be something new and fresh for younger couples and families coming up from the city to live.

The deadline to apply to OLG is November 16th. OLG officials says they hope to make a decision sometime in 2013 with a casino, if it’s wanted in the area, being built two to three years later.

Right now the idea is for a gaming facility with 300 slot machines. OLG says whether gaming tables are to be included still has to be determined.

 

Barrie Advance Oct 02, 2012 

WASAGA BEACH – A meeting will be held in Wasaga Beach Tuesday, Oct. 16 to hear what the public has to say about having a casino in the area. 

It is a joint meeting, intended to hear comments from people living in Collingwood, Springwater Township, Clearview Township and Wasaga Beach, the four communities that are included in the C7 zone.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) Corporation has identified the area as a possible site for 300 slots.

OLG officials will be in attendance to provide information.

“Due to the nature of the meeting, OLG representatives will only be taking questions from members of council. Any questions from the public are required to be provided to members of council from the respective municipalities so that they can be posed to the OLG representatives at the meeting,” said Wasaga Beach economic development officer Jenny Legget in a news release.

The meeting will be held at the RecPlex, located at 1724 Mosley St., at 7 p.m.

A second meeting for Wasaga Beach residents and business owners only will be held at the RecPlex on Wednesday, Oct. 24 beginning at 7 p.m.

Wasaga Beach is also looking for input through a survey available online and at town facilities. Visit www.wasagabeach.com and click on the ‘Wasaga Gaming Opportunity’ to access the survey.