Residents of north Etobicoke will get their first chance to comment on a contentious plan to add gaming tables to Woodbine Racetrack at a public meeting this Monday.
The City of Toronto says staff will be at the Etobicoke Olympium, located at 590 Rathburn Road this Monday evening to talk to residents about the Woodbine site and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s process for new gaming sites.
The consultation is scheduled to take place in the Etobicoke Olympium’s second floor lounge, with an open house between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and then a two-hour period for a presentation, along with time for questions and comments from the public.
In March, Mayor John Tory said he supported adding gaming tables to Woodbine Racetrack, so long as the expansion brings new commercial development, such as hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues to the area as well.
Council voted down a proposal to expand gambling options at Woodbine 24-20 two years ago.
A report prepared by city staff in 2013 estimated that expanding gaming facilities at Woodbine could generate as many as 4,855 new permanent jobs and $47 million in new annual revenue for the city.
Woodbine Racetrack hosts about 2,000 slot machines.
Acting city manager John Libby will bring a report back to council detailing the risks, merits and “technical planning requirements” of the expansion by June 30.
