Agenda File # 13280-20-LU008527

EXHIBIT ~~ PUBLIC HEARING

MAY 0 2 2018

Attention: Mayor & Council, City Of ~~NBR 1-3:0l

Received at the May 2,2018 Public Hearing - Continuation

I am providing this written submission in lieu of speaking at the Public Hearing, as provided for

in the information sheet provided to us entitled "Conduct Of Public Hearing For Gateway

Casinos & Entetainment Ltd. Application". I have delivered this submission to the staff at the

Registration Desk in the Foyer of the Ladner Community Center on May 2,2018 prior to the

conclusion of the Public Hearing that began on May 1, 2018.

I have been a Tsawwassen resident for 33 years, and I wish to state that I am fully in support of

this application by Gateway Casinos.

I believe that this $70 million project will bring much needed jobs, money and tourism to our

community. It will also provide our residents with a local entertainment facility to enjoy­

something that is currently lacking in our community.

I have heard the concerns voiced at this meeting about money laundering, gambling addiction

and crime associated with casinos. Yet I would point out that these issues already exist in our

community, without any casino present. Turning down this proposal will not change that fact.

The money laundering issue is something that needs to be dealt with by our government at a

federal level. It is not a municipal issue to deal with. To look at the casino being proposed here

and somehow try to compare it with the issues that occurred at the River Rock casino is a very

big stretch. The gaming area. of this proposed casino is significantly smaller than that of the

River Rock. There are far fewer slot machines and table games proposed for this venue . . A

smaller venue leads to closer scrutiny of the patrons and their actions, which makes it more

difficult for any criminal element to attempt to "blend" into the crowd and escape drawing

attention from those overseeing the gaming floor operations. Despite concerns I have heard

voiced, I also do not believe that our community will suddenly be overrun with hoards of Mafia,

Chinese Triads, or any other organized crime groups simply because of the opening ofthis

casino.

Gambling addiction does occur in any community - with or without a casino. It is an illness, as is

any addiction. There are statistics being quoted that indicate that 3.3 % of the population

suffers from a moderate to severe ga mbling addiction. This means that 96.7% of the population

are able to gamble responsibly, and with control, as a form of entertainment. For the small

percentage that do have issues, the casinos offer easily accessible programs to help them

manage their issues, including GameSense and Self-Exclusion. Affected individuals can and

should also access the services of mental health professionals. And of course, it would be

expected that their families would also be providing support to them in a caring and

understanding way to help them. But to use this issue as a reason to deny the vast majority of

responsible casino players the opportunity to have a venue in our community to gamble in

1

TYPE: PUBLIC HEARING DEPT: CPL&D ( Q A.T.#: \ .~LV~ -;jt) COMIVIENTS: MAY 2, 2018 PH GATEWAY CASINO CONTINUATION

because that small percentage cannot control their impulses seems completely illogical to me.

Crime is another issue that has been raised and apparently many here do not understand (or

wantto believe) that crime already exists in our community. One need only read the Delta

Optimist and see the "South Delta Crime Beat" column that appears there regularly. Break-ins,

property crime, counterfeit money, vandalism, etc. are all regular occurrances here - and we do

not have a casino. For example, one of the "hot-spots" that appears with much frequency in this

column is the North 40 Dog Park. Vehicle break-ins & theft are a very common occurrance

there, and it couldn't be further removed from having any resemblance to a casino property.

Delta Police have researched academic studies, along with real life experiences of Police

Departments in other jurisdictions in Canada to determine their views on this proposal. Delta

Police Chief Neil Dubord has stated that those studies have shown having a casino would not

result in a a crime spike for Delta and street level crime would not be an issue. I believe that

the professional opinion offered by the Delta Police is accurate. Some speakers have stated that

they believe that the casino will become a huge draw on our Police Department, yet they seem

to be unaware that the casinos use their own security teams to deal with' issues on their

property. Police resources are only requested when necessary, as is the case with every other

business in the community.

We have also heard from a small special interest group that has inserted the loss of the "Tennis

Bubble" into the discussion about this proposal. Those covered courts are operated as a private

members club. They are not owned or operated by the City of Delta. Put quite simply, if the

Town & Country Tennis Club wishes to have a covered facility in which to operate, they are

welcome to do what every other private group would db in that situation - raise funds and build

one. I am sure Gateway Casinos would even provide a donation to their fundraising drive if

asked. But to say that either the City Of Delta or Gateway somehow "owes" this private club a

facility to replace the one being removed is simply invalid and has no place in this discussion.

The positive aspects of this proposal far outweigh any assumptions & "what if's" raised by

those who are against this proposal.

The fact is, our community needs to expand the opportunities available to our residents.

The Gateway Casino proposal would create many jobs with good pay & benefits both during

and after construction (unlike the overabundance of low paid, part time jobs with few benefits

we currently see offered in our community) .

Gateway is a responsible corporate citizen, and they support the community they are in. We

have many groups in South Delta that are constantly in need of funds to keep operating, as

evidenced by the never ending requests for donations, grants and assistance by sports

organizations, community service groups and charities. Gateway provides a significant amount

of financial donations annually to many community service, sporting and charitable groups &

2

organizations as a way of giving back to the community.

Once the casino is up & operating, Delta will receive an expected $1 - $3 million dollars

annually from Gateway, to use as they see fit. As a longtime taxpayer in Delta, I welcome these

funds as an addition to our budget. Council can designate where these funds go as they see fit,

and as we always have a list of projects needing funding I see no downside to Delta having extra

money to work with, without having to pick the pockets of our taxpayers. The City of Richmond

has enjoyed the benefits of this type of revenue from the River Rock casino for many years, and

as such, it is no surprise that they are voicing opposition to this project. That opposition is

completely self serving on their part. They are well aware that they will receive less money

from the River Rock if a portion of the clientele chooses to move their play in Delta instead. It

has nothing to do with the "red herring" arguments they have presented about crime, traffic,

etc. that they suggest will affect them should this new casino be approved.

In closing, I would urge our Mayor and Councillors to embrace this proposal as a positive

addition to the community of Delta, and to approve this Application by Gateway Casinos. I look

forward to seeing this come to a successful & beneficial conclusion for all residents of Delta.

Thank you.

Patricia Moore

4895 1 Avenue

3

Agenda File # 13280-20-LU008527

Sandy Ramdayal 10074- 121 A Street Surrey, BC V3V 4L2

Mayor Lois Jackson,

Received at the

May 2, 2018 Public Hearing - Continuation May 2,2018

I was at last night's public hearing and must say I was not impressed by the multiple speakers that chose to fear monger about the incoming crime and violence that would come with a casino. Canada has had casinos for many years without this being an issue. Many are located in the heart of a city or town. Burnaby's Grand Villa casino for example is a very short walk from BCIT. I believe and trust in our police chief, Neil Dubord, when he says he has done his research, spoken to others in his fi~ld and holds personal experience to determine there will not be any issues with introducing a casino into Delta.

~~el;,O _

~yal

TYPE: PUBLIC HEARING

DEPT: C\~Q~G . A.T.#: \~ \ 'J COMMENTS: MAY 2, 2018 PH GATEWAY CASINO CONTINUATION

\

Agenda File # 13280-20-LU008527

Y ogesh Prasad 11103- 83 A Ave Delta, BC V4C 2J4

Mayor Jackson,

Received at the

May 2,2018 Public Hearing - Continuation

May 2,2018

I was in attendance last night and wanted to send in my thoughts to you and Council.

There was a bunch who spoke of the articles in the Vancouver Sun by Sam Cooper. I have also read them and think it is important to note that they are speaking about the River Rock casino in Richmond which is not owned by Gateway. I agree with the speaker last night who said we should let Gateway's resume speak for itself and not assume they have conducted their business in the same manner.

Thank you for your time,

TYPE: PUBLIC HEARING DEPT' CP&D A,T,#{,J0 L.\D~ COMMENTS: MAY 2,2018 PH GATEWAY CASINO CONTINUATION

Agenda File # 13280-20-LU008527

May 2, 2018

Darrel Sundar 201 - 9453 - 120 St. Delta, BC V4C 6S2

Dear Mayor Jackson,

Received at the

May 2,2018 Public Hearing - Continuation

I was in attendance last night and feel compelled to send in further correspondence to you and Council.

Many spoke about the articles in the Vancouver Sun by Sam Cooper. I too have read them and think it is important to first take any media article with a grain of salt and understand that there are sure to be some facts missing. It is also important to note that they are speaking about the River Rock casino in Richmond which is owned by a different company. This project is being presented by Gateway who I know doesn't own the River Rock. I agree with the speaker last night that said we should let Gateway's resume speak for itself and not assume they have conducted their business in the same manner.

TYPE: PUBLIC HEARING DEPT: CP&D ry'Q

A.T.#: (13--\1)d-O COMMENTS: MAY 2, 2018 PH GATEWAY CASINO CONTINUATION

Agenda File # 13280-20-LU008527

May 2,2018

Jim Sundar 15- 1520 Cliveden Ave Delta, BC V3M 6J8

To Mayor Jackson:

Received at the

Mav 2, 2018 Public Hearing - Continuation

RE: Gateway Casino Proposed Project in Delta

I sat through last night's public hearing and echo the speaker that said this project is a Gateway property and they are not the owners of the River Rock which is the casino at the center on the current articles. It would be irresponsible of us all to assume Gateway is operating in the same manner as how River Rock is being reported .

Thank you,

Jim Sundar

TYPE: PUBLIC HEARING DEPT: CP&D ~ 0 A.T.#: \~l\ :50..0 COMMENtS: MAY 2, 2018 PH GATEWAY CASINO CONTINUATION