After it was announced late last week that layoffs are coming at Sudbury Downs, city councillors are again making their calls for expanded casino gaming in the area to be housed at the raceway and not a different venue, which would lead to the demise of the local racing industry.

"I think that's where it should be. It should stay at Sudbury Downs. If they want to bring in tables for gambling, there's room there," Councillor Evelyn Dutrisac was quoted as saying in an article by the Sudbury Star. "There's parking, there's room, it's creating jobs ... It's a win-win situation to keep it there."

Under its controversial gaming modernization plan, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. is looking to have casinos erected within urban areas, something which many are against, both for what negative effects it will have on the urban areas and how it will negatively impact the rural sector.

"A lot of our farmers are producing crops for the horses. What's going to happen to those horses?" Dutrisac asked rhetorically, adding, "A lot of people have invested money (in the industry). This is going to have a grave impact on agriculture in the City of Greater Sudbury."

(With files from the Sudbury Star)

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