Toronto City Council's executive committee has agreed to reopen the discussion on expanded gaming at Woodbine Racetrack.

Councillors voted in favour of Deputy Mayor and Ward 1 councillor Vincent Crisanti's motion requesting that the executive committee ask council to authorize public consultations on expanded gaming at the Rexdale racetrack and that the city manager report back by June 30 with an “assessment of the technical planning requirements, and merits and potential risks” of the idea.

Mayor John Tory told reporters Wednesday that he would support the motion, noting that his ultimate support for table games at the Rexdale facility will hinge on what other kinds of development, such as a hotel, entertainment venues and restaurants, would be included in the expansion.

“I believe that you do look at expanded gaming at Woodbine as a catalyst and it needs to be accompanied by other kinds of development that will create more jobs for people out there,” he said. “It is a part of the city that desperately needs investment and job creation.”

The motion comes nearly two years after council voted 24-20 against expanded gaming at the site, however the debate at the time largely focused around a more contentious proposal to build a large downtown casino, which was defeated 40-4, and some councillors have suggested that the idea may be worth revisiting.

“The bottom line is council spoke and it was against a mega casino downtown. This is different,” Ward 10 Coun. James Pasternak told CP24 Wednesday morning. “That said, from a personal point of view, I have a problem with gaming as a government tool to raise money and create jobs. There are better ways of doing it.”

In his letter to executive committee penned earlier this month, Crisanti says that Woodbine needs the additional revenue from table games to ensure “long-term sustainability for the horse racing industry.” Funding has come through the province’s Horse Racing Partnership Funding Program but that expires at the end of 2019.

Crisanti then goes on to stress the “immense revitalization and economic prospects” that could be realized in North Etobicoke as a result of expanded gaming at Woodbine.

A staff report tabled in 2013 suggested that expanding the gaming facilities at Woodbine would generate about 4,855 permanent jobs and $47 million in annual revenue for the city.

“The opportunity is before us to create a legacy at this site that will see an economically depressed area like Rexdale revitalized with new operations like a hotel, restaurants, retail, amenities, partnerships to support community needs, etc,” Crisanti wrote.

Shiner pushes Woodbine CEO for more info

Earlier this month, Tory said he would only be open to restarting the debate on expanding gaming if it was part of a “broader kind of entertainment complex” but during Wednesday’s meeting, Woodbine Entertainment Group President and CEO Nick Eaves offered few details on that side of things, drawing criticism from Ward 24 Coun. David Shiner.

“You’ve got to have a plan,” Shiner said. “There is going to be some concern if you can’t tell us what you want to do besides getting more people to gamble in Toronto.”

Following Shiner’s remarks Eaves told the committee meeting that as the landowner, his organization is “probably more motivated than anyone else to see that the (vacant) land (it owns) gets developed in a way that can contribute” to its core business.

Tory then cautioned members of executive committee that they were only voting on studying the issue of expanding gaming at Woodbine and scolded Shiner when he interrupted his remarks.

"I am speaking," Tory said.

"No you are not. The rules of procedures don't allow the mayor to jump in and speak right after a member of council speaks," Shiner replied.

Speaking with reporters on Wednesday afternoon, Tory said he felt that Shiner was “aggressively questioning” Eaves in an improper manner.

"Members of the public see us having the same debates over and over again and not focusing on the matter at hand and I am trying to do things differently here in terms of the use of the people's time," he said. "People want to see us get more done and spend less time saying things that have already been said or that will be said some other time."

Seven-year terms for ombudsman and lobbyist registrar

In addition to expanded gaming at Woodbine, the executive committee is also expected to consider a recommendation from City Manager Joe Pennachetti today to begin offering non-renewable seven year contracts to the ombudsman and lobbyist registrar.

The proposal comes after Ombudsman Fiona Crean cited the “political climate” surrounding the reappointment process as her main reason for deciding to step aside at the conclusion of her term in November.

The terms of the ombudsman and lobbyist registrar are currently five years, renewable once for an additional five years.

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