City councillors to decide fate of Wonderland Road Gateway Casino today

City councillors will decide today whether to rezone a portion of Wonderland Road South to allow a proposed casino development, but the councillor who represents the ward says the idea needs more consultations.

Councillor Anna Hopkins represents Ward 9, where Gateway Casino and Entertainment hopes to build a new$75-million dollar casino.

• Gateway identifies two alternate properties for new casino

Last week, a city council committee was deadlocked on whether to support the project.

"I just don't see the rush," said Hopkins.

But, London Mayor Ed Holder is concerned the city will lose the project, 700 new jobs and millions in tax and gaming revenue if the rezoning isn't quickly approved. He fears the casino could end up in Southwold Township or St. Thomas if council doesn't act.

"If they (Gateway)go south of the 401, which is the other option they have, those new jobs, that construction, that revenue sharing and that estimated taxes go somewhere else," said Holder at a recent meeting to discuss the rezoning application.

Hopkins has concerns about the social impact of the casino, as well as:

• What will happen to the Western Fair District if the casino that is currently there relocates.
• That there haven't been enough consultations to ensure residents of Ward 9 know enough about the project.
• The implications of changing the Southwest Area Plan (SWAP), which spelled out how that part of the city is to grow.

"We could do a better job with public consultations," said Hopkins. "And, it's not just with First Nations. It is with the community. This is a big planning application and I think we need to do a better job informing the community about those implications."

Indigenous communities in the area are concerned, given the proximity to three reserves in the area: Oneida Nation of the Thames, Chippewas of the Thames and Munsee Delaware First Nation.

Human trafficking concerns

"It's very close to our reserves and also so close to the highway," said Alicia Snake, Indigenous Wellness and Anti-Human Trafficking assistant at AtlohsaFamily Healing Services in London.

"It could be a luring station for someone who is trafficking. If you're going to pick up someone at the casino youcould easily take them right to the highway and off to Windsor or Toronto."

While this is a land zoning application, Hopkins is concerned about the potential social ramifications of the outcome of council's decision.

"It's very hard not to look at the social impacts as we look at a zoning application," she said. "That's why, to me, it's even more important that we have a better, broader consultation."

Hopkins said she plans to vote against the rezoning applicationbut it will likely pass given the mayorand numerous other council members have publicly stated their support for the project.