Discussions

Never been to the carberry casino cause it’s not in Brandon. I’d personally love it. We already got vlts in every lounge in Brandon why not get the casino and get some tax revenue from it.

It drives me nuts that some are so quick to say no to this! I know this has been debated to death already but those opposed to this are super naive. To think that those that have gambling issues are not finding places to gamble in Brandon already or going to Carberry or Winnipeg.  
 
Those people who would like to have a night out and spend some money are being screwed because of that!!  
 
Those people that could make a living at a casino are being screwed!!  
 
I would love to have somewhere different to go and have a drink or watch entertainment.  
 
Gambling addictions are awful and heartbreaking for those and families affected but so is alcohol and drugs. Why should I have to drive to Carberry or Winnipeg because I don’t have a gambling addiction??  
 
I AM 100% in favour of bringing a casino TO BRANDON!!

not going to move the casino, just wishful thinking. It cost how many millions to build it, and then to suddenly build another new building when they haven't paid that one off.

Food is an addiction but nobody complains when another restaurant moves into town..... Bring on the casino!!!!  
 
PS. When was the vote because I never voted and I’ve been here for going on 9 years. Things change over the years and maybe the vote would be different this time?

Just a guess, I would venture to say it will get moved to at the burned down Antique Shop location.  
 
I still can't believe some people have some problems with the word NO!

exactly where I was thinking, knowing that was leased and First Nations land.  
 
 
one of the stories from the fire, that mentions who owns the land:  
 
https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/crews-fight-frigid-temperatures-to-put-out-barn-fire-near-brandon-1.3736794  
 
Edited by Brenda..., 2019-01-14 19:51:07

It should have been built by Brandon to start with imo. I haven’t been but would definitely check it out if it was close by

I would be fine with a casino in or around Brandon except the fact with reserve status it would pay considerably less tax to benefit us, but still give us all the social issues that comes with a casino.  
 
Yes alcohol, and food can be addicting but by selling and taxing it we can offset the social problems with the tax money they contribute. With a reserve status casino we will gain some money but mainly just off additional jobs to support the additional casino employees in the area.  
 
In no way do I believe you can stop a problem based on distance but think about how much worse we'd be if say the downtown bars that bring significant social issues around them paid significantly less taxes. They would provide jobs too but the costs they bring would outweigh the benefit they provide and as a community we wouldn't want to support the problems they cause/enable.  
 
Final problem is if it must locate by the airport it at very least should pay to get the water system the company wants built to get them there.  
 
Everybody seems to think new industry because there will be some jobs will benefit us as a community but due to many factors like increase police usage,cost to run the water there, additional AFM in area. Then factor in the company as a whole has a much reduced tax rate. At what point does cost outweigh benefit.  
 
Edited by darkg, 2019-01-14 21:09:34

They will eventually have to close or relocate. The casino hasn't been making money since day one. It will eventually have to be relocated around a more populated centre such as Brandon. Eventually we will be stuck with it. As other have said the money paid in lieu of taxes is never even comparable to what it should be. They think that Brandon is the savior for the casino. Shooting high unless they build a concert area large enough to host real entertainment I cannot see them going much past breaking even. People I talk to go for the food, not to spend money in the machines. Casinos are not big money makers like they used to it seems.

Help me out here. So your issue is "legalized gambling" and it has somehow negatively affected your family? This is why you don't want a casino in Brandon?? Correct? Yet Sandhills is basically just a great big room of VLT machines like every little seedy establishment in Brandon that has a handful or more of these same machines. Like literally every licensed establishment in town has VLTs so what is the difference?! And now that they are all pretty much hidden and out of sight I think that is actually what a gambling addict prefers. They don't want people to see them, as would happen in a casino. They would much rather hide in some dingy dark, sectioned off area like they are doing now. A casino is not a bad thing, it could actually be a good thing for Brandon. Heck maybe if we had a casino my taxes wouldn't be going up another 3.8%.  
 
Edited by MSR, 2019-01-14 22:28:44

Your taxes wouldn't go down from a casino built on an urban reserve. Reserves are federal jurisdiction so they pay to the country as a whole as a community we simply arrange "municipal service agreements" to pay for utilities usually but no taxes. Which for last time when it wanted by the airport we would have to install sewer and water supply at our cost before it came.  
 
The only taxes we would get is from people in Brandon who would work there and pay income tax and maybe minor ripple effect in service industry jobs to serve them. Which would be relatively small as most the jobs are low paid and unskilled workers.  
 
Between no taxes and us paying to install water/sewer if anything you'd be paying more this year. It would take years for the agreement to even make the money to offset the water and property provided initially free of charge.  
 
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/demystifying-urban-reserves-1.2993051  
 
Edited by darkg, 2019-01-14 22:42:41

You who oppose a casino in Brandon are needlessly concerned as it would not be in city limits...… It would be RM of Elton to deal with it and they have been waiting for awhile to welcome it as itwould be a big asset to the entire municipality.

As it would be to the city of Brandon with hotel stays, meals in restaurants, purchases in our stores, gas from our service stations etc. etc.  
 
However the typical fear mongering when the term Urban Reserve is used is already starting. I do hope the RM of Elton gets it if these rumours are even remotely true.

Missed the ball by letting the casino go to Carberry in the first place. Brandon is and has been stagnating for the last 15 years. We should have never let the water slides leave the city, We should have fought to keep our Brandon sun being printed in Brandon.Considering it takes literally years to decide things like a walking bridge or 8 years to build a bridge speaks volumes about our local govts being afraid to take a stand on things.

I would have been before that. We've been here 13 years and it was not long after we moved here, I think probably the first election after getting here. That was the second time it was voted on already too.  
 
I'm not super-crazy about the idea of the casino moving here. I grew up in Winnipeg a hop-skip-jump from Club Regent, and there's just a vibe from it that is unappealing. I had a friend that worked at the MacDonald's inside there, and I always found it a sad place to be.

I don't understand all this Brandon bashing?  
 
The population voted "no" when asked about the casino. Whether or not you agree, that's what was decided by the majority of voters. However, that was 10+ years ago, so maybe opinion has changed - but maybe it hasn't. There are socio-economic issues that I think concerned a lot of people at the time, and continue to concern people to this day.  
 
The waterslides "left" because it was an unsustainable business model. The printing was moved because the paper is owned by the group that owns the Winnipeg Free Press and from a economy standpoint it made sense to consolidate printing in Winnipeg once Brandon lost the contract to print the National Post. It takes years to decide a lot of things at government level - look how long Winnipeg has anguished over things like the Waverly Underpass and the development of the Parker Lands.  
 
I find Brandon to be a beautiful, inviting and fairly progressive city for it's size and position. We have lots of benefits, services and infrastructure that family that lives elsewhere is envious of. Having a casino isn't going to attract families to live here.

Brandon has no problem giving it's citizens access to drugs, alcohol, and the dancers at the keyrock, but moving the casino to the city would an immoral act that tears about the fabric of society? Gambling addicts don't go to the casino to blow their paycheque, they go play the slappers at a lounge. Casinos enabling gambling addiction is simply not true and a non-argument. That's like saying night clubs enable alcoholism. Nobody sees the same guys balancing 24s on their bikes going to Houstons.  
 
The word progressive gets thrown around a lot. So explain to me how is forcing people to drive out to the backwoods of Carberry to play some casino games progressive? The city should just ignore that decade old vote, because not only is it hypocritical when compared to everything Brandon already caters to, it was likely dominated by the moral guardian types who have nothing better to do on voting day. I've met very few people who are actually against the casino being in the city. The silent majority has no problem with the casino.  
 
Let the casino in or shut down the Liquor commissions and bars and the weed shops. Shut down the fast food joints too, since they enable obesity which is a far bigger social problem. The mall should go as well, to stop all those shopping addicts.  
 
Edited by The_Great_Poobah, 2019-01-15 14:14:06

What I don't understand is how many people do they need to make it viable to profit. If they keep posting losses then what? Using the math from Regina and Moose Jaw the profit per visitor was $13. I am sure the entertainment level is well above that of Sand Hills provides. They have continued to lose millions of dollars since it opened, and according to news articles that doesn't even include the millions for the 3rd party overseeing the operations. To have to build a new building in the Brandon area for how many more millions of dollars, how long will it take to get the casino to actually turn a profit. Then to divide the profit over 64 first nation bands.....what is a few thousand dollars going to do for a band? I honestly don't think they are going to get rich like they think they are over a casino.

THE_GREAT_POOBAH said: "The city should just ignore that decade old vote, because not only is it hypocritical when compared to everything Brandon already caters to, it was likely dominated by the moral guardian types who have nothing better to do on voting day. I've met very few people who are actually against the casino being in the city. The silent majority has no problem with the casino. "  
 
How in a democratic society do we get from where we are today to what you suggest would be the correct course of action to follow? It troubles me to see that your opinion of those that took time from their day to get out and vote are looked on as "types who have nothing better to do on voting day". Are those that didn't bother to vote the type that expect society to anticipate their wishes and needs and fulfill those wishes and needs without them ever lifting a finger to make it happen?  
 
It may well be that public opinion has changed since the last time a vote was taken and indeed a casino would be welcomed in this community, and maybe, perhaps, nothing has changed. My thoughts would be that if there is ever another opportunity to make a choice that the so called "silent majority" get off their collective asses and make themselves heard rather than bitch about it forever after.

Tell you what, you do a four-week abstinence on eating, and tell us how that affects your food addiction.

Hate getting too far ahead because its very possible that the survey's just simply research and that there's nothing more behind it at the moment......  
 
But if it came time for council involvement the elephant in the room here is the question of whether or not a 17% turnout in our election gives enough of a mandate for council to be able to make a decision that contradicts the 'No' vote. As more and more time passes since that last plebiscite the answer gets less and less cut and dry but I do think its at least a question worth asking and debating.  
 
Somewhere in there in weighing pros vs cons you'd also have to look at the cost of a plebiscite. Have to think if this was anywhere near going to council that it would've been on the ballot at the end of October. You want turnout, ask people if they want a casino  
 
Or is it a matter of if happens to be Elton, what we think in Brandon isn't necessarily going to matter?

I cannot believe that people are still debating about what a casino brings and doesn’t bring . Just go to Smitty’s bar or to the North Forty saloon walk in and nobody will even lift their head from the machine they’re playing . So what! It is 100% their choice and probably a night out for them. You can’t stop me from going to the liquor store and you won’t stop me from going to the casino because it is 100% my choice . So please don’t try to run my life just look after your own . Just stay at home look out your window and wait for Jesus to come and don’t be too surprised that when he does come he takes us both to heaven .

was not initiated by the casino.  
 
Most of the story is behind a paywall. But basically, no one with the casino initiated the survey and are looking into who started it. They have no intentions on moving.  
 
 
https://www.brandonsun.com/local/no-plans-to-move-casino-chief-says-504411222.html?utm_content=bufferdffd3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

In that Sun story Swan Lake First Nation Chief Francine Meeches is quoted as saying she has no intention of moving the casino and that:  
 
----  
Begin quote: "I was not aware of it, so at this time, (I’m) just contacting certain individuals and trying to get the background and history of all this,"  
 
"I don’t know who initiated all this. I was told certain individuals, but I don’t know. I don’t even have answers ... I don’t know what has transpired over the last while and why it’s even happening. I wish I knew." End quote  
 
-----  
 
What I will say is that the people I know of that received the survey were on Sand Hills Casino's mailing list, that the email that i:ncluded the survey was specific in claiming that it was Sand Hills Casino seeking the feedback and that there was definitely the statement on it that "Sand Hills Casino is considering relocating in close proximity to Brandon, MB." Perhaps a case of someone claiming to be working on behalf of the casino without its blessing? Either way if the Swan Lake Chief is going on record as saying there's no intention of moving I would take that statement seriously. I have a couple more places to send followups and will see what more can be learned about how the survey came about.  
 
Edited by Adam, 2019-01-16 09:46:43

I spoke with Swan Lake Chief Francine Meeches this morning. She was clear that she is strongly opposed to relocating or the casino being at Brandon in lieu of the community’s history on the topic of a casino. It should be noted that Swan Lake is one stakeholder in a collective of many, however she was also clear that there is no relocation effort she was privy to nor would she support one.  
 
It sounds like the survey may have been initiated by someone else in that group. I will update if I learn more or if there’s a more formal statement issued

"It troubles me to see that your opinion of those that took time from their day to get out and vote are looked on as "types who have nothing better to do on voting day". Are those that didn't bother to vote the type that expect society to anticipate their wishes and needs and fulfill those wishes and needs without them ever lifting a finger to make it happen? "  
 
17% of the population voted on this issue, and not all of them voted No. Don't pretend this was a democratic decision when less than than 15% of the population voted against it. People are busy, they don't have time to run around voting against the unemployed, retired, or employed 8-4 working near the voting center Moral Guardians who complained about this non-issue. If governemnt would catch up to the 21st century and actually let us cast votes online Yes would've been overhwelming, because most people have no strong feelings against a casino but not strong enough feelings to drive into the city, or wake up early on a short change day, or skip class, or drive through atrocious Brandon rush hour traffic in the middle of the day to go cast a vote on a minor issue-if their work even offers them the option to take time out of a shift to go cast a municipal vote-unlike the nothing better to do Moral Guardians who spend all day fretting about everyone else's choices, just waiting for the opportunity to enforce their ethnics on the majority of the population.  
 
Let us register for online voting, give us unique voting numbers, set up a website that runs all week, and take away the barriers used to push out productive and busy members of society from the democratic process.

Building a casino in Brandon would bri g so many positive benefits to the whole area. Downtown Regina really turned the corner when a casino was built. Crime went down and hotels and restaurants followed. Building a casino in downtown Brandon would hugely benefit the downtown.

This was democratic result, like or not. If didn't vote for whatever reason, don't complain. Put the blame on the 83% that didn't bother voting for whatever reason. That was their choice which they had the freedom to when its all said and done. Its over due to just move forward instead of crying like a child who didn't get their way.  
 
As for voting online, there's way too means to have the results rigged for either side including out of town people voting!

Yes I would visit a casino in Brandon. I haven’t gone to the carberry one due to distance. I feel like the city really dropped the ball on this personally, it’s a great opportunity for city revenue and adds local jobs.