The City of Ottawa's hopes for two full fledged casinos were rejected outright again today by the Ontario government.
In a letter addressed to Mayor Jim Watson, Finance Minister Charles Sousa reiterated the position by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation about the viability of two casinos in the capital.
The letter states. 'Based on this analysis, the Ontario government continues to support the OLG recommendation of developing one zone and one site in the Ottawa area", wrote Sousa.
Faced with that knowledge, the city's Finance and Economic Development Committee today voted 10-1 to recommend the casino go to the existing facility at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
The vote disappointed Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk. He once again lobbied the committee to consider a casino on his land around the Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata. Melnyk envisions a casino as part of a half billion dollar sports, retail and entertainment complex. He says he needs the development to offset the ten million dollars a year he loses operating the Senators. "The team has already gone bankrupt once," he warns.
Melnyk says his next step is to meet with his lawyer to consider legal action, maintaining the decision represents sole-sourcing by the city.
