Ramara lobbies for Casino Rama revenue

Photo by Chris Simon Royal Victoria Hospital auxiliary volunteer Rita Pauderis was handing out cake slices during the Celebration of Caring in Barrie Saturday. Several hundred people attended the event, which took place on the hospital's front lawn.

The Township of Ramara wants Simcoe County to join with it in lobbying for revenues from Casino Rama.

The Casino grossed $525.5 million last year with $105 million going to the province.

Ramara says you cannot get to the Casino without going on county and township roads. Niagara Falls and Windsor also receive special help from the province to deal with roads when casinos were put in those locations.

Ramara says it has spent $3 to 3.8 million related to the casino and as well wants an additional rescue vehicle but has been shut out of revenue.

It noted that the Province changed its website twice in 2005 to avoid giving Ramara anything including changing the "host municipality" from Ramara to Rama Mnjikaning.

When Ramara pointed out the reserve was not a municipality, the website was changed again to "host community" .