Speedway OMB appeal tossed

From Niagara This Week: Last Thursday was a good day for Fort Erie Mayor Doug Martin. “We’re happy, happy, happy, happy,” Fort Erie Mayor Doug Martin said. “This is a great decision, it’s great news.” The “decision” Martin was referring to was one issued by The Ontario Municipal Board Thursday which clears the way for…

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Battle over Peace Bridge stokes Canada-U.S. cross-border tension

From Canada.com: Three U.S. lawmakers have launched a bid to scrap the “dysfunctional” binational agency that has overseen operation of the Peace Bridge between Ontario and New York for nearly a century, part of the escalating fallout from a dispute over planned improvements to the U.S. approach to the crossing that has pitted Canadian board…

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Fort Erie speedway hits another bump in the road

From the Niagara Falls Review: Two Fort Erie landowners whose property is needed to develop the Canadian Motor Speedway are waving the red flag, but speedway director Azhar Mohammed says plans for the track are proceeding full throttle. Mike Racey and Richard Jukosky own two pieces of land near the QEW and Bowen Rd., that…

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No NASCAR in Fort Erie

From Niagara This Week: NASCAR is not coming to Fort Erie. No NASCAR. Not in Fort Erie. It bears repeating because one glance at any social media site — and even some major news outlets — over the last week would suggest precisely the opposite. As reported by the Post last week, NASCAR has never…

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Questions still surround proposed Fort Erie speedway

From the Toronto Star (Wheels.ca): Another hurdle has been cleared by the developers of the proposed Canadian Motor Speedway in Fort Erie. On Monday, the Ontario Municipal Board rejected all appeals against the planned speedway, which will include a one-mile paved oval track with seating for 65,000 spectators plus a road course. Good luck to…

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Casino disputes man’s win claim

From the Niagara Falls Review: Harry Blackwood contends he won $25,000 while playing a slot machine at Fallsview Casino recently. But officials refused to pay him because they say there was something wrong with the machine and that he did not actually win. The Fort Erie man said it happened on Sept. 22 — a…

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Nexus Use on the Rise

From the Niagara Falls Review: Border crossings in Niagara using Nexus now account for 12% of all bridge traffic according to the local bridge authorities. The agencies that manage the four bridges in the region put out a press release Tuesday saying a campaign to get more Nexus users in the first half of 2012…

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Speedway opponent drops OMB challenge

And now for one little bit of news that isn’t related to Nik Wallenda 🙂 From Niagara This Week: The proposed Canadian Motor Speedway project has one less barrier to hurdle this week after a settlement was reached between one of the major groups opposed to the project and the speedway proponent. Council voted unanimously…

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Changes to Ontario’s gaming industry kills Fort Erie’s bid for slots (also how it affects Niagara Falls)

From the Niagara Falls Review: Sweeping changes to Ontario’s gaming industry unveiled Thursday has essentially quashed Fort Erie’s bid to take over its now defunct slots facility. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is asking for private-sector operators to step up and express interest in 29 separate “gaming zones” across the province. Fort Erie did…

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Speedway OMB hearing to start June 18

From Niagara This Week: An Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) pre-hearing held last month in the Fort Erie council chambers attempted to set the schedule for the Canadian Motor Speedway (CMS) hearing, but the parties were unable to settle on a date and agreed to try again in a few weeks… According to Town solicitor Heather…

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