Ajax slots to remain open until at least 2026, province announces

TheStar.com
October 11, 2018
Keith Gilligan

A day after Thanksgiving, the town of Ajax really had a reason for thanks.

MPP Rod Phillips (Ajax) announced that the slots at Casino Ajax would remain open until 2026, with an option to stay open for another 12 years after that.

Ajax Mayor Steve Parish (left) and MPP Rod Phillips (Ajax) announced on Tuesday that Casino Ajax will remain open with 500 slots. The Ajax facility was slated to close after a new casino was awarded to Pickering. There are currently 800 slots at the Ajax site.

However, the slots will be capped at 500 machines, down from the present 800 slots.

“I’m very pleased to announce an agreement in principle to keep the slots here in Ajax,” Phillips said at a news conference Tuesday held at the facility.

“It’s great news and critical revenue for the town.”

Joining Parish at the announcement were Ajax Mayor Steve Parish, Bob Broadstock, the president of the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario, and Justin Picov, whose family owns the Casino Ajax site.

During the recent provincial election, Doug Ford promised that if elected, he was “committed to finding a solution,” Phillips said.

“I promised to fight for Ajax Downs,” Phillips said. “We’re reversing the decision of the previous government.”

In April, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation announced it was going to operate the Durham Live casino proposal in Pickering. Under the plan, the Ajax facility would have closed when the Pickering site opened.

Since the Ajax facility opened in February, 2006, “it’s put well in excess of $80 million into the community,” Parish said.
Sukhmander Singh, owner of Adesh Deol Trucking Ltd., speaks to reporters from his home in Calgary in July.

The town has used the money to fund such projects as new recreation centres, new operations and fire headquarters, and Pat Bayly Square.

“It’s done so much for infrastructure and the capability of the community,” Parish said. “It’s created jobs.”

With the current 800 slots, the town has been receiving almost $8 million annually. With 500 slots, Parish expects the municipality will receive between $4.5 million and $5 million annually.

“It’s been a very important facility for our community in so many ways. When the facility was under threat, council worked hard to see what we can do,” Parish said. “This is great. Everyone was part of putting this together.”

He noted politicians will make promises that aren’t kept.

“When they do, we criticize them. When they keep their promises, we’ve got to say thank you and well done,” Parish said to Phillips, who is the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

“Minister Phillips was on this file during the election and after the election. It was high profile to deliver and he has. Thank you so much for your hard work.”

The Ajax facility helps fund the quarter-horse racing industry, which employs about 1,700 people in Ontario. It’s the only quarter-horse racing facility in Eastern Canada.

Broadstock said without the revenue from the slots, racing wouldn’t be able to continue.

“What a glorious day to stand here before you to announce quarter-horse racing will continue here in Ajax,” Broadstock said.

“In April, our worst fears were realized when the government announced the closing of Ajax Downs,” he said, adding it’s a “world class facility for our little industry. Three hundred families will sleep a little better tonight and for years to come.”

Picov said the announcement will help lift “the fog of the last few months. Today is a really exciting day.

“We were told, especially by the Liberal government, there was no future for Ajax Downs,” Picov said.

“We’re in the first stage of negotiations. We’re happy so far. There’s still a lot of work to be done,” Picov added. “Rod, Ajax and the quarter-horse racing industry owe you a big thank you.”

Parish said he was pleased to have the announcement made while he was still in office. Parish announced last spring that he wouldn’t be running again after 23 years as mayor.

“That could be construed as the rat leaving the ship. I really wanted to have this file completed in a positive way before leaving office,” Parish noted.

Preliminary construction activity at the Durham Live proposal, at Church and Bayly Sts., has started.