Sudbury council frustrated by Ontario's stalled casino plans

Sudbury city council is frustrated with the province's slow-moving and confusing casino plans, but councillors did very little to progress the issue at their meeting Tuesday night.

Coun. Claude Berthiaume called on the city to declare that the racetrack in Azilda is its preferred location for a new casino but his colleagues didn't jump on the idea.

"I do think that's a good location for a casino, but you know what, I do not think that this is our problem to solve, said Coun. Frances Caldarelli.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation has been "inept" in handling this casino expansion and should clean up itsown mess, she added.

Her fellow councillors shared in this frustration with the OLG.

"They have failed the people of Ontario miserably. And they've left us in a mess. Just a disgraceful mess, said Coun. Terry Kett.

But he worried that locking in the casino at the racetrack would mean no chance for the hotel, arena or convention centre they've been dreaming about.

"Because as soon as we do that, we can't go back we're restricted."

However Berthiaume pointed out that one "cannot separate casino and harness racing as they are intertwined. It is not sustainable, one without the other."

Coun. Dave Kilgour said he felt too much in the dark to make a decision at the meeting.

"I'm just wondering if we have any more information. Because I'm not sure if I trust anybody."

So, councillors put off a decision with plans to ask the OLG, Sudbury Downs and any other players to come and fill them in at a future meeting.