Construction is expected to begin this summer on Cascades Casino Delta.
In an update provided to the Optimist, Gateway Casinos and Entertainment says it’s addressing the remaining comments from the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure regarding site access and anticipates all items will be resolved in the coming weeks.
“Ministry approval has already been obtained to proceed with the demolition of the existing building,” Gateway stated. “Demolition of the building [the former Delta Town & Country Inn] is expected to begin next week, including hazmat abatement in some building sections. Demolition is scheduled to be completed between the third and fourth week of April.”
Meanwhile, a group of residents continues to urge Delta council to halt or delay the casino due to ongoing developments around crime and money laundering in B.C. casinos.
Resident Aimee McKinney appeared at the Feb. 25 council meeting along with about a dozen residents all sporting buttons opposing the casino.
McKinney said the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) has always had the ability to have cashless casinos but has never done so. It has also had the ability to curtail money laundering simply by enacting a policy that casino operators refuse suspicious cash, but hasn’t done that either, she said.
“Are any of you prepared to revisit the decision in light of this new information?” McKinney asked council. “This is going to be your legacy. This is a decision that this new council can make.”
McKinney and about a dozen or so residents also appeared at the March 11 council meeting, again sporting badges and signage objecting to the casino. Eight letters opposing construction of the casino were also part of the council agenda.
Three residents also posed questions prior to the start of the meeting around money laundering, traffic, a responsible gaming fund and more.
Council said answers to those questions, along with further discussions on money laundering and cashless casinos, would be forthcoming at a future meeting.
Gateway also wrote a letter to Delta council, which was part of the March 11 agenda.
Gateway said since the publication of the Peter German report Dirty Money, Gateway has worked with BCLC and other service providers to assist the provincial government in implementing the remaining recommendations.
“Gateway, as an operator of casinos in three Canadian jurisdictions, has been able to identify and advance best practices observed in other provincial Crown corporation AML programs,” said Gateway’s Jagtar Nijjar. “Gateway has a zero tolerance for criminal activity in our properties and has robust policies in place to report any suspected criminal behaviour that may occur.”
