2004/03/01 The City of Niagara Falls, Ontario
Council Chambers
No. 03 March 1, 2004
Moved by Alderman WING
Seconded by Alderman PIETRANGELO
WHEREAS according to the Ontario Casino Corporation, the ultimate goal of the Niagara Falls
Casino/Gateway Project is to assist in transforming the area into a unique, first-class, year round
tourist destination; and
WHEREAS the original Request for Proposal (RFP) required the successful proponent to develop
an "attractor" to achieve the goal of year-round tourism; and
WHEREAS in 1998 the Ontario Provincial government chose the Falls Management Company
(FMC) as the preferred proponent for the Niagara Falls Casino/Gateway Project; and
WHEREAS the FMC announced with great fanfare that a 12,000 seat indoor/outdoor amphitheatre
and entertainment venue would be a key off-site attraction of the Niagara Falls Casino/Gateway
Project; and
WHEREASthe original projection on the ampitheatre was $40 million, yet the FMC subsequently
indicated that their financial obligation was only $15 million; and
WHEREAS while other possible attractors have been discussed, nothing official has been
forthcoming from the FMC; and
WHEREAS the off-site attractors were to open at the same time as the permanent casino, which is
slated to open this year; and
WHEREAS since 1998, nothing concrete or tangible has been completed by the FMC to fulfill their
obligation of a year-round tourist attractor.
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THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and appropriate staff meet with Premier Dalton
McGuinty, the Honourable Joe Cordiano, Minister of Economic Development and Trade and
Timothy Reid, Chair, of the Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation, to proceed with the year-round
12,000 seat indoor/outdoor ampitheatre and entertainment venue; and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that area M.P.P's, Kim Craitor and the Honourable Jim Bradley,
Minister of Tourism, be enlisted to assist in this matter; and
FINALLY BE IT RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Jim Dougan,
President and COO, Falls Management Company, and Duncan Brown, incoming Chief Executive
Officer for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, impressing upon them the need for the
FMC to fulfill their $40 million obligation for a year-round 12,000 seat indoor/outdoor ampitheatre
and entertainment venue
AND The Seal of the Corporation be hereto affixed.
Carried Unanimously.
R. T. (TED) SALCI
CITY CLERK MAYOR