Monday, February 20
Your LOCAL Media since 1918! Volume 105 Issue 24
www.tofieldmerc.com
Wednesday, February 15, 2023 s
Tofield agrees rural groups should receive higher casino revenues Motion passed by Tofield Council to write letter of support for Camrose Casino to AGLC John Mather Staff Reporter
The owners of Camrose Casino are asking area municipalities to add their support for getting a change to the way rural charities receive payouts from Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis compared to urban charities. “It’s not right that a charitable event in an urban centre can bring in six times more revenue than an event in a rural community,” stated a letter received by Tofield Council, Feb. 13, from Camrose Casino president Jason Pechet. “Rural communities deserve better,” it went on. “Whether it’s support for the less fortunate, local youth sports clubs, or community services like libraries, volunteer fire departments, and animal shelters, rural charities enhance the civic culture of the communities they serve. “Unfortunately rural charities are operating at a distinct disadvantage to those in urban centres.” Councillor Brenda Chehade did agree council should produce a letter of support for the casino’s position. The casino letter pointed out that AGLC’s designated regions for both Camrose and St. Albert have the lowest revenues per gaming event with Camrose averaging $6,100 per event and St. Albert averaging $8,100 per event. It further pointed out that wait times for a charitable casinos were the highest with Camrose having a wait time of 41 months, while St. Albert was 31 months. Similar events in Edmonton for urban charities would average $39,000 in revenue and had a wait time of only 23 months. The letter also asks for support to allow the Camrose Casino to relocate to Edmonton, but still provide revenue for rural charities. A similar arrangement does operate in Calgary.
The AGLC refused earlier this year to allow Camrose Casino to relocate to Edmonton’s south side. Pechet’s letter suggested if the casino couldn’t relocate then it may be forced to close. Tofield Council also received a letter supporting the Camrose Casino position from the Town of Smoky Lake. The letter suggested if the casino was to close it would have a negative effect on the town’s community groups “and by extension, the people within our region.” Tofield Mayor Deb Dueck asked if the town’s charitable organization’s had received the letter from the casino and was told they had.
She wondered if the Town would only be duplicating others, if they wrote a letter. Deputy Reeve Harold Conquest agreed Tofield should write a letter of support. A motion was passed to have administration draft a letter and council would then follow up on it. Chief Administrative Officer Cindy Neufeld said there was going to be a zoom meeting with municipalities and the casino operator to further discuss the issue Feb. 15. She said she would send the link to councillors so they could view. Dueck added it would be nice if the rural charities could get more funding from a larger pool of funds like the urban charities do.
DR KALLAL OFFICE HOURS 11-4 WE ARE HERE DR LIM MONDAY TUESDAY 10-5 FOR ALL DR TRAC WEDNESDAY 10-6 5024 51 AVE PH: 780-662-0104
THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
10-5 9-3 9-1
YOUR EYE CARE NEEDS!
BOOK YOUR EYE EXAM DIRECTLY ONLINE AT WWW.TOFIELDEYECARE.COM