City councillor wants Lacombe to explore allowing VLTs

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Konnik says his Notice of Motion allows for council to either simply rescind the bylaw that prohibits VLTs in Lacombe or to return VLT’ through a ballot question.

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“My preference would be to simply rescind bylaw 244. However, given that the prohibition of VLTs occurred through a ballot question, perhaps it is the appetite of this council to have the people decide if they should be allowed.”

Konnik suggests the benefit he sees lie with the restaurants and lounges that want to have them.

“As a former small business owner myself, I understand the need to do whatever you can to increase your bottom line, and as such, this is a way for those restaurants and lounges to do that,” he says.

“The question of gambling and its effects are sure to be discussed. However, those people who play VLTs are driving outside of our community to do that, which is wrong. They should be spending their money buying beverages and food in establishments within our community.”

Konnik himself, however, says he is ambivalent when it comes to having VLTs in the community.

“I don’t play them and I don’t plan to do so in the future. But those that do play them should be given the opportunity to support our local restaurants and lounges, rather than those outside of our city,” he remarks.

“As a councilor for the City of Lacombe, I have always been an advocate for shopping local and supporting our community. This is one more way to do that by supporting our local restaurants and lounges by giving them the opportunity to make their businesses more viable.”