whistler - November 09th, 2005
A. Thanks for your question. I'm interested if you are asking as an individual or on behalf of a third party.

In conversation with voters they have made it clear they are concerned that "economic quickstart" ideas will obviously include the casino idea.
Not a single person is in favour of a casino, on the contrary. That is the position I take also. There is much more to this community than the issue
of how to fill empty hotel rooms that should not have been built in the first place. The tourism infrastructure overcapacity problem and proposed solutions will
lead to many ideas that may well contribute to the deterioration of the community as a whole and I will strongly resist those types of solutions.

I prefer not to get into justifying my statement that (a casino) ...may well contribute to the deterioration of the community as a whole. I think the body of evidence is
overwhelming and I don't believe the people of Whistler care to move in that direction

Thanks again for your question.
Eckhard Zeidler

anonymous - November 10th, 2005
As a point of clarification I said "in my conversations with voters - not a single person is in favour of a casino" So yes I am refering to the people I have spoken with, over a great many years. This first came up about 15 years ago and it will be coming up again, very soon indeed. I fully support your argument and suggestion that the issue and inevitable debate fully involve the community. Whatever the outcome everyone will at least have their eyes open on the issue and the facts. If it makes it that far I see this as an issue that should clearly go to the voters in a referendum, having it decided behind closed doors is entirely out of the question.
Eckhard Zeidler

anonymous - November 10th, 2005
Garry Watson - November 10th, 2005
I have great difficulty in understanding how anyone would even think about allowing a gambling casino in Whistler. Aside from all of the proven severe social impacts that inevitably follow, the demands that would be place on our affordable housing supply to house the large number of new employees a casino would attract would seriously conflict with our current efforts to house our existing employees who are essential to the success of the resort's businesses. This has to be a non-starter.

anonymous - November 10th, 2005
Thanks Gary. You touched on one of the major points of my campaign - if we can actually manage to acknowledge that the growth economy of the resort is behind us and get off the development treadmill we have an opportunity to actually solve the resident affordable housing issue, this term! If we don't, it will always be the number one election issue. I for one would like to see it RESOLVED so we can move on to the many other challenges.
Eckhard
ps: Ben - this is gonna come up sooner than we think, I'm really looking forward to a spirited and informative information campaign from both sides leading up to a referendum.

anonymous - November 11th, 2005
Hey Ben
I don't know if I'll get on council but I'm sensing a shift away from "anonymous" and "concerned citizens" with no names. If we can pull that off in the next three years and get us back to a community of friends, who may agree on issues or not but at least debate them, that will be a great accomplishment. Thanks for your input - make sure you show up after the election or I'll have to come and drag you out!
Eckhard

anonymous - November 12th, 2005
Has anyone considered what the First Nations will be building on the land granted to them by VANOC? Do they not have a history of building casinos?

anonymous - November 13th, 2005
BIG issue - smwhistler
I thought we had an opportunity to put the boundary expansion thing into play with the provincial government through the possibility of putting a strategic 'chess piece' in the Callaghan Valley to get some influence there but the community decided against that. The Squamish Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is responsible for zoning uses on every scrap of land outside the various municipal boundaries other than parks in Sea to Sky. Whistler has one vote at the SLRD, and our neighbors in Sea to Sky have a bunch of votes. I'm not sure our neighbors are very happy with Whistler these days so if we want to gain ANY influence on the areas outside muni boundaries we need to consider that.
Eckhard Zeidler

anonymous - November 13th, 2005
HELLO. Eckhard, I am talking about land within the muncipality. The First Nations group are looking at land that is adjacent to Alta Vista where the highways works yard is. (Check out Bob Barnet's column in the Pique) or they are only developing 75% of the land across from the Chateau Whistler. Both sites are potential casino develepment locations. The First Nations group does not require Muncipal approval. Think again - we could have a casino on our doorstep without any community input.

anonymous - November 13th, 2005
My understanding is that the Lil'wat and Squamish are looking at 3 potential parcels as part of being granted an economic legacy in Whistler by the provincial government. The works yard seems pretty far along and there are ongoing discussions about upper Rainbow and Cheakamus.
It's not accurate to say that they would not require Municipal approval as all these lands fall within municipal boundaries and jurisdiction. Rezonings, bed units, business licences will be subject to RMOW approval processes.
Eckhard Zeidler

anonymous - November 13th, 2005
The land above the Rainbow site has been deeded to the First Nations. Neon would look good up there! Could we prevent this by building a small village casino, on the community’s terms?

anonymous - November 14th, 2005
Perhaps consideration could be given to incorporating a casino with the paralympic facility which could conceivably payoff the construction debt relatively quickly.

anonymous - November 20th, 2005
I put this question forth in the london drugs blog as I thought it might quaify as a recreational activity for that space. So if I,m who you are refering to Eckhard I am a private individual who likes poker and am not in anyway affiliated with any business group. I agree with Ben that a tastefully done casino without too many slots would be nice to have in town. But I think it should be pointed out that the table games actually employ more people than the largley automated slot machines.
Troy Therrien

anonymous - November 21st, 2005
How about putting the casino in the Lorco Recreation space that London Drugs wants rezoned? That is entertainment.....