Statement: Casino Relocation in Ward Karhiio
Frustration doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Today, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) approved the application to relocate the Capital City Casino from Camrose to South Edmonton. I am deeply disappointed by this decision, which myself and City Council wrote to AGLC in opposition of.
I know many residents in Ward Karhiio, charitable organizations, and even some in the business community across Edmonton are feeling the same frustration. They have been actively voicing their concerns about the negative impacts of this relocation on:
Charitable gaming revenue,
Existing infrastructure and road congestion, and,
Overall quality of life.
These issues, the same ones from 2 years ago, have still not been addressed to date, and I will continue to advocate for a fair outcome for the community.
Infrastructure and Traffic
A new casino of this size has a substantive footprint and will come with substantive infrastructure needs. Parsons Road has already seen rising congestion with the rapid growth in south Edmonton. This casino will compound the traffic issues in the area. If the City had adequate infrastructure funding from the Province, this priority area would see immediate widening or upgrade. However, despite a tremendous advocacy campaign on municipal infrastructure funding, the government is still not providing adequate support. A new casino means new revenue generated for the Province - a fair deal is providing infrastructure funding to reduce the onus on Edmontonians.
Charitable Gaming
The new casino will retain a rural license. This means any charitable revenue raised there would leave Edmonton. I have heard from both the business community and the non-profit sector about the ramifications that the estimated decrease in gaming funding will have on the local charitable and non-profit sector. At a time when funding for this sector is already limited, any reductions will negatively impact their ability to support communities and offer vital services locally.
If there had been an equitable approach to this decision, AGLC would have acted urgently on recommendations from the Charitable Gaming Review initiated in 2019 to ensure equity across communities small and large in Alberta. Today’s decision is NOT a win for rural communities. Having already been positioned as a wedge issue, deeper division among rural and urban communities means we ALL stand to lose.
Alongside colleagues from rural and urban communities, I continue to urge the Province and AGLC to implement recommendations for revenue pooling and a more equitable distribution of funds. Legislation should not be about pitting urban and rural communities against each other, but finding a better model that closes the funding equity gap.
Edmonton’s Fiscal Challenges
At Council, we have been discussing the City’s fiscal challenges, while managing expenses and budgets during a period of high inflation, high interest rate, and rapid growth. The casino relocation is yet another cost pressure stemming from provincial decisions that the municipality and the community have to deal with, despite having no additional resources to do so.
At the end of the day, a new business is moving into Ward Karhiio, likely with significant impact to the surrounding area. As the Ward Councillor, I will continue to do my best to ensure that everyone is supported. While it is not the outcome many in the community were hoping for, I will be exploring resources and possible next steps. I would also like to encourage the Capital City Casino team to consider how they can give back to the community that they will be a part of, and support the needs of local residents and community groups, whether infrastructure or otherwise, as a good neighbour.
