Windsor casino 'a sinkhole': MPP

A Conservative MPP slammed Caesars Windsor on Thursday, calling it "a sinkhole of a casino that's so deep it needs stimulus funds to stay afloat."

Speaking at Queen's Park, Peter Shurman condemned the provincial Liberal government and its finance minister, Dwight Duncan, for spending $430 million on a 2008 casino expansion that was budgeted at $400 million. Duncan is MPP for Windsor-Tecumseh, which does not include the casino.

"You have Ontario taxpayers on the hook for at least another $212 million," he added, referring to public accounts that show Caesars will need government help to fund current operations and overcome a negative cash flow.

"I'd say that's quite a mess you have on your hands," Shurman said. "Here I thought the house wasn't supposed to lose."

The casino has "made a lot of money over the years" and encourages tourism, Duncan said after the debate.

He said it also provides much-needed jobs in Windsor, which has the highest unemployment rate among Canadian cities, at 14.9 per cent, according to Statistics Canada.

The casino is the second-largest employer in Windsor, with about 3,600 employees.