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Chamber doesn't expect more resignations over casino/arena

Two members quit this week to show their opposition to Kingsway site, arrival of a full casino
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The Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce is expressing disappointment after two high-profile members announced they were quitting the chamber. (File)

The Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce is expressing disappointment after two high-profile members announced they were quitting the chamber.

Former chairs Andre Dumais and Vicki Jacobs said this week they resigned from the chamber's board of directors because the organization supports plans to build a full casino in Sudbury, as part of the arena/event centre and hotel on The Kingsway.

Chair Michael Macnamara confirmed Thursday they have accepted two resignations “with regret.”

He said the chamber created a task force in 2012-2013 to study the issue of the casino, shortly after the province announced modernization plans for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. to build full casinos in gaming zones across the process.

The chamber wanted unbiased information on what impact the casino would have on the city. 

"It had no agenda," he said. “But that research confirmed that a casino would be a benefit the local economy."

The chamber came out in support, provided it was a full casino and it was twinned with another major development, such as an events centre or arena, Macnamara said, because that is what the research told them.

He said there are many views among chamber members, and everyone is free to express themselves at meetings. But once a decision is taken, it's important to present a united voice to the public.

"It's not our intention to restrict people's opinion or ability to express themselves," he said. "We're not trying to silence anyone."

Following a protracted debate last spring, city council voted to build a new $80 million to $100 million arena/events centre on land in the Moonlight Beach area off The Kingsway owned by businessman Dario Zulich and his partners. Gateway Casinos has announced it will build its full casino on the property, as well, and a hotel chain has committed to building there, as well.

But a group headed by businessman Tom Fortin, supported by Dumais and Jacobs and 200 local businesses, is gearing up to fight the casino. Details about the group can be found here.

Jacobs, owner of Copy Copy, downtown, said she used to lead the Social Planning Council of Sudbury in the 1990s when communities were deciding whether they wanted a gambling facility in their community. They looked into the ill effects of casinos as part of their research. 

At the time, Sudbury councillors rejected the idea, but the council in Rayside-Balfour voted in favour.

"Nothing has changed,” Jacobs said. “Casinos are still bad for business and they're still bad socially.

"There's is no upside, to me, in having expanded gaming in Sudbury. It's not economic development, it sucks money out of the community, it's bad for business."

She was also unimpressed with what she saw as the chamber's half-hearted support for building the arena downtown. The chamber supported The Kingsway after city council rejected downtown.

"These two issues, to me, are game-changing for the city of Sudbury. And game-changing for local businesses," Jacobs said. "And I cannot, in good conscience, support either of these directions. I'm very much against expanded gaming in Sudbury, and moving the arena/events centre out of the core and into the outskirts, where nothing else exists, is bad for business.

"It was a difficult decision. This is the group that you want to have your best interests at heart. But I think it was the right one."

While sorry to see them go, Macnamara said he doesn't foresee more resignations.

“There's no reason to believe that will happen at this point."


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