Casino project voted down by Surrey Council

A $100-million casino proposal for Surrey, B.C., has been turned down ina closevote by city council.

The5-4 vote against the project was held about 2 a.m. PT Saturday after a long list of speakers addressed the issue.

Mayor Diane Watts cast the deciding vote, saying there were lots of positives to the proposal, including an adjoining hotel and entertainment complex. But she believes the majority of city residents didn't want it.

Phil Embleywas part of a committee opposed to the project and sayscouncil showed a lot of courage in turning it down.

"It was a great vote for the community. I think the lesson that we've learned from this is the system works and that the mayor and council listened to us," Embley said.

The councillors voting in favour of the application included Tom Gill, Linda Hepner, Barinder Rasode and Barbara Steele.

Those councillors opposed, in addition to Watts, were Bruce Hayne, Marvin Hunt, Mary Martin and Judy Villeneuve.

The joint proposal by Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limted and the BC Lottery Corporation envisioned a 60,000-square-foot casino, a 200-room hotel and 27,000-square-foot entertainment and convention centre, all at the corner of 12th avenue and 168th Street.