Archive 1997-2016
Forgive me hockey fans, for I am a sinner. I am Canadian, yet I am not a zealous hockey connoisseur. I cannot rattle off hockey stats and I don’t program my VCR to record the playoffs. But when one Ottawa Senators’ player made front page news for giving $1 million to the National Arts Centre, the world of hockey caught my interest.
The City of Gloucester has moved ahead of Ottawa in the race to land two permanent charity casinos designated by the province for the Ottawa-Carleton region.
This means a proposed casino in the Byward Market has a slim chance for survival.
Carnival Hotels and Casinos, an American-based company that also owns Casino Rama in Orillia, told city council last week it intends to build a casino in the 22,000 square-foot room formerly used by the Winners department store, located in the Gloucester City Centre.
A city council decision that seeks to fund the local arts scene by adding a $2-charge to hotel stays is simply another tax grab, local hoteliers say.
“Why should a businessman from Vancouver have to pay a tax to fund the arts in Ottawa when he’s only here on business,” says Don Blakslee, president of Ottawa Hoteliers Inc.
The race to host the region’s two charity casinos is in the home stretch, and Ottawa city council is still behind the starting gate trying to decide whether to enter.
It appears the winner will be the City of Gloucester, which may win both casinos before the chips are down.