Woodbine Casino Expansion Plans

 

The two companies officially took over the day-to-day operations and assets of OLG Slots at Woodbine Racetrack, OLG Slots at Ajax Downs and Great Blue Heron Casino through a $170 million transition and asset purchase agreement with OLG. Yesterday, the two companies laid out their casino expansion plans for Great Blue Heron Casino. With one day left until the City of Toronto votes on the proposed Woodbine casino expansion, a community and labour coalition has made clear that unless it is made a signatory in a legally binding community benefits agreement, the northern Etobicoke community of Rexdale is not going to give its support to the project.

Ontario Gaming GTA LP is developing the Woodbine Casino Expansion Project, a multi-phase, mixed-use development project located in Ward 2 Etobicoke North in Toronto. The project is part of the major overall expansion of the existing Woodbine Racetrack, which will remain open for the duration of the project.

City council has given the go-ahead for a casino in north Etobicoke, under conditions including a $5-million investment in daycare for local workers who will be hired under a community-benefits agreement.

Councillors approved the beefed-up benefits agreement Thursday in the second day of debate on the matter, and also approved the zoning of the Woodbine Racetrack expansion as recommended by the Etobicoke and York Community Council.

The vote put a cap on council’s 2015 decision to allow the Ontario Gaming Greater Toronto Area Limited Partnership to expand gaming at the racetrack, so long as it offered community and social benefits.

Those benefits were to include significant local hiring, both in construction trades (10 per cent) and at the casino itself (40 per cent), as well as services and benefits to mitigate the impact a casino might have on the community.

This week, council added to those. The development must now provide a $5-million daycare, that will operate on extended hours to match those of casino workers. Council also strengthened language requiring best efforts to hire a minimum 10 per cent from local and equity-seeking populations. Labour representatives will sit on an advisory working group. And council tightened up accountability measures to make sure that all the community benefit requirements are honoured.

Woodbine casino expansion plans floor plans

Woodbine Casino Expansion Plans List

Rosemarie Powell called the final package “a win for the community, 100 per cent.”

Woodbine Casino Expansion Plans Plan

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Woodbine Casino Expansion Plans Floor Plans

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