Council Opposes Casino Expansion

The council was required by law to defeat resolutions that would establish a casino at 22nd Street and Pacific Avenue and free the city to use municipal land for expanded gambling as well as pass a third resolution to repeal the last council's tentative approval of a downtown venue.

City administration suggested the city voluntarily take a further step to clarify its stance by passing a resolution banning the use of city land for a gambling expansion in the next three years. Council unanimously passed all four resolutions without debate -- a marked contrast to the heated discussion that dominated the last year.

The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority has already decided to move its downtown venue proposal to the Whitecap First Nation, 26 kilometres south of Saskatoon.

The previous city council voted late last year in favour of the proposed casino downtown and against holding a referendum on the issue. A petition later forced the city to call a referendum that last month resulted in voters rejecting both a casino on 22nd Street and the city's use of its own land to accommodate expanded casino gambling.

If it ever decides to reopen the issue, Donauer said council should voluntarily call a plebiscite. If electors chose council candidates who openly supported a gambling site during the campaign, the city could likewise argue it had a mandate, he said.

Tourism Saskatoon chief executive officer Todd Brandt noted that council's stance could handicap any plans the Emerald might form to expand, in the unlikely event that the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority rejects a licence application for the casino on the Whitecap reserve.