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Onex Casino Project (Markham?)

canarob

canarob

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Here's another casino project. Kyle Rae will do anything for a dollar!

Sorry for the Sun article...

Kyle Rae hired by Onex to discourage downtown Toronto casino
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The fact that Schwartz, who operates the Tropicana Casino in Las Vegas, has hired a high profile former Toronto city councillor who is a vehemently opposed to a downtown casino has sent a message of what direction he may be considering.

“Onex is scouting out locations all across the GTA,†confirmed former Toronto city councillor Kyle Rae who, through his PQR Solutions firm, is Onex’s registered lobbyist at city hall.

However, several sources say, his primary location would be a piece of land in Markham and Rae was hired to help ensure the deal to have one built in downtown does not happen.
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http://www.torontosun.com/2012/10/19/kyle-rae-hired-by-onex-to-discourage-downtown-toronto-casino
 
Conrad Black said:
There's something wrong with Kyle Rae working for the private sector?
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No, but I hate this kind of backhanded lobbying. If he wants to argue that the Markham (or wherever) proposal is better, that's fine, but if his job is purely to stoke NIMBYism against the Toronto proposal, that seems exceptionally sleazy.
 
Why Markham? Wouldn't you want to put a casino where there's more tourism?
Though I'm againast any casino anywhere in the GTA, and I think downtown Toronto is more appropriate than Markham.
Sounds like Rae is trying to pass this issue elsewhere.
 
neuhaus said:
Why Markham? Wouldn't you want to put a casino where there's more tourism?
Though I'm againast any casino anywhere in the GTA, and I think downtown Toronto is more appropriate than Markham.
Sounds like Rae is trying to pass this issue elsewhere.
Click to expand...

Some possible locations:
-next to the proposed arena, or elsewhere in Markham Centre
-the Buttonville redevelopment
-elsewhere north on the 404, like up close to 19th Ave, right where Markham ends

I can't think of any other locations that would have the required land and highway access.
 
There's something wrong with Kyle Rae working for the private sector?
Click to expand...

Sounds like he is doing what he is being paid to do which is to represent Onyx and their wishes.
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But whereas one might previously have listened to Kyle Rae as an advocate in the public interest nothing he says now about a Toronto casino can really be taken seriously, because not only is he getting paid to do it (not necessarily a problem), he is getting paid by a casino operator who wants to set up shop in a neighbouring municipality. It is one thing to lobby on behalf of those whose interests you share, but quite another to do so on behalf of those whose interests you are supposedly opposed to, just to get them to do the same thing you oppose 25-50 km away.
 
Interesting, does Onex own any land in Markham that we know about ? Keep in mind Onex owns many other companies so it may not be clear.

I could see this going beside the stadium.
 
taal said:
Interesting, does Onex own any land in Markham that we know about ? Keep in mind Onex owns many other companies so it may not be clear.

I could see this going beside the stadium.
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Onex owns Cineplex, which is already involved with the Downtown Markham project. Aside from that, I don't think there are any obvious connections.
 
Markham council rejected the idea of a casino in the summer, so I'm not sure how this will get approved. There would have to be some benefit to the community beyond simply adding jobs. I have a sneaking suspicion that this will be proposed as a way for the city to pay for its part of the arena.

Personally, I don't have a problem with a casino in Markham Centre or another suitable site, but I think I'm in the minority. There is certainly a demand in the area though -- a friend lives in Markham Centre and there are (reportedly) a number of "gaming houses" in his building.

http://www.yorkregion.com/news/article/1383681--markham-won-t-gamble-on-casino
 
TOareaFan said:
Is that a proven formula?
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Why that's elementary math silly, don't they teach that in high school ? Sheesh ... schools nowadays ...
 
taal said:
Why that's elementary math silly, don't they teach that in high school ? Sheesh ... schools nowadays ...
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Maybe they do teach it "nowadays"....but that would be the new math...and I am a long time out of H.S........;)
 
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