Frustrations at Surrey council after casino decision
Posted January 25, 2013 10:14 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS1130) – There are lingering frustrations within the Surrey First team in the wake of last week’s casino rejection. Some councillors are questioning what happened.
They were elected as a team, but the casino vote showed a sharp division; Councillor Linda Hepner is among those who supported the casino and thinks council should have huddled behind closed doors before taking the vote.
“When we’re doing something like that, maybe everyone’s mind at 2 o’clock in the morning… we probably should have caucused to [discuss], ‘What are the kinds of impacts that this is going to have on the city?'”
When asked to describe how last week’s decision has affected the team, she says, “I don’t think I’d go so far as to use the word ‘rift.’ It has created some questions around how we make some important economic decisions in the city.”
Hepner says council has taken a pass on millions of dollars and thousands of jobs. She wants council to review the steps it took.
However, she says there’s no indication council would revisit its decision.
Meanwhile, the casino project Surrey rejected could go to Tsawassen First Nation instead.
The lottery corporation and the gaming minister still want the mega casino built somewhere south of the Fraser River.
Tsawassen First Nation is planning two mega-malls for Highway 17 but back in 2011, the band said a casino wasn’t part of the project.
