Councillors Chak Au and Carol Day requested that the city's new gaming revenue policy be put to a round of public consultation.
"I’m hoping we have some kind of consultation with the public, especially the community services sector,” said Au, after tabling a referral at city council Monday.
The only person to support Au's motion was Day.
Coun. Bill McNulty, calling the policy "progressive," accused Au of "political posturing."
Au said he initially wanted an endowment fund, or at least more funding for community grants upon learning such a fund would require tens of millions of dollars.
Au's political colleague Coun. Ken Johnston supported moving forward with the policy, without consultation. In October, both had promised to double community grant funding with casino funds but the new casino revenue policy proposed by city staff and subsequently approved by council on Monday only increased the funding by 70 per cent. Their Richmond Community Coalition also called for more "transparency and engagement."
For more background on the new casino policy see the related links.
