CTV News Montreal aired a report yesterday regarding the issue Hippodrome de Montreal's municipality has over the proposed bailout of Attractions Hippiques from the provincial government
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The proposed bailout -- which is not being supported whatsoever from the local racing community -- would see the racetrack demolished, but an additional 100 VLTs installed at an Attractions Hippiques-run gaming centre. In a release yesterday, Attractions Hippiques' owner, Paul Massicotte, said that the facility would not be a mini casino, even though it would not be a racetrack.
In a media conference yesterday, the municipality clearly stated that it wanted no part of the proposed gaming venue. As CTV reported, the borough of Cote-Des-Neiges wants to turn the site into community housing with up to 10,000 housing units, businesses and day care.
The CTV reports that 40 per cent of Cote-des-Neiges residents are from low income families, and some object to the Attractions Hippiques plan for that reason. "There aren't that many citizens in this borough who aren't going to object to this so-called plan," said one woman.
To view the report in its entirety, click here.
(With files from CTV)