Lawsuit, bribery allegations causes more KED delays in Sudbury
Gateway Casinos has asked Greater Sudbury to delay work on the Kingsway Entertainment Centre because of a lawsuit by a local group aimed at stopping the project.
Gateway also said city council's request to have the Ontario Provincial Police investigate bribery allegations has created too much uncertainty to proceed right now.
"Site grading work at the Kingsway Entertainment District (KED) site, which was scheduled to begin this week, is being delayed at the request of Gateway Casinos," the city said in a news release Monday.
"Gateway advised the city they are pausing site grading work until additional clarity is available about the resolution of ongoing legal matters related to the Minnow Lake Restoration Group lawsuit and city Council’s request for an investigation into claims made by Councillor Montpellier, which the Greater Sudbury Police Service has asked the Ontario Provincial Police to investigate."
In a statement, Gateway said it was still committed to the project.
"Gateway remains supportive of the KED project and continues to invest significant time and resources into the project as we believe it is the best location for a premier gaming and entertainment facility in Sudbury," spokesperson Rob Mitchell said, who said Gateway has spent approximately $3.9 million so far on the project.
The fact the Minnow Lake suit won't be heard in court until April 2022, added to the OPP investigation has created too much "uncertainty around the project," Mitchell said.
"It is not commercially reasonable for Gateway to continue to provide additional significant funding to the next phase of the project until these ongoing challenges are resolved and the entire scope of the project is confirmed to be moving ahead," he added.
"Gateway hopes for a quick and successful resolution of the outstanding issues, and in the meantime we continue to work collaboratively with other project stakeholders."
Developer Dario Zulich released a statement on the delay Tuesday afternoon.
"The concept of the KED was founded on partnership," the statement said. "It’s all for one and one for all. What is not good for one of us, is not good for any of us. As a matter of principle, all partners must assist each other where possible as we move at the speed of business, post COVID. As such, we must respect Gateway and its position on risk assessment.
"The KED group has had to adjust our collective plans over the past few years to meet many challenges head on, including COVID," the statement continued. "Council has repeatedly supported the KED at every challenge. All partners, including the hotelier, remain committed to their respective roles at the KED.
"Once these last few obstacles are overcome, we will continue forward together and ultimately see this transformational project for Greater Sudbury through to its successful completion."
For its part, the city said staff are meeting with project partners this week to review the information and determine effects on project scheduling and deliverables.
"Staff will develop recommendations and next steps for council’s consideration," the release said.
"The city is very confident in its position related to the Minnow Lake Restoration Group lawsuit, as demonstrated by the successful outcomes of the LPAT and Superior Court case decisions."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.