Cascades Casino Delta will not be on the civic election ballot.
Delta council this week rejected a proposal put forward by Coun. Jeannie Kanakos to have an opinion question asking voters if they support a casino complex in Delta.
Citing a query from a recent letter writer who asked what it would take to put a simple yes-or-no question on the ballot, Kanakos said there’s still significant opposition to the project, which received final approval from council this summer.
Kanakos added having a non-binding opinion question would give the city a better idea of community support because the process for the application was rushed.
Saying he took exception to the accusation the process was rushed, Coun. Robert Campbell said the public hearing heard from many over two days and that the city would have allowed it to continue, but it ran out of speakers.
Coun. Sylvia Bishop agreed, noting the democratic process was thoroughly followed and the application went through all the required steps, including public consultation.
Coun. Bruce McDonald said the application was carefully considered in that council looked at 387 pieces of correspondence and heard from over 100 speakers. Adding a question on the ballot “would be an exercise in futility” in that it might give people the wrong idea that council would rescind its zoning approval, he added.
Coun. Heather King, who had previously joined Kanakos in voting against the casino, did not, however, support adding a question to the ballot, saying council should honour the process. She also noted she didn’t want to “stir up false hope” the project would be quashed.
Gateway’s $70-million casino/hotel complex, which is to be built at the Delta Town & Country Inn site in Ladner, has now been referred to the B.C. Lottery Corporation for final approval.
Construction is scheduled to begin this fall with a grand opening in 2020.
