All eyes will be on Coun. Tom Gill Monday night as Surrey council considers a community gaming centre for Newton.

Gill is a key swing vote and has altered his position on the planned facility in the last few months.

In March, Gill was strongly opposed to the installation of 150 slot machines at Newton Bingo Country at 7093 King George Hwy. Gill’s position hadn’t wavered until two weeks ago, when he voted to send the application to an Oct. 19 public hearing.

He said at the time his switch came over “a very tough weekend” when he heard from several members of the public and a group of developers in Newton who said they were amenable to the project as it would improve the look of the area.

“I’ve supported this to go to public hearing, and I want to make sure it’s something I make the best decision on,” Gill said. “I’m right on 50-50 right now. Do I have a sick pit in my stomach? Absolutely, I do.”

He’s received thank you letters from several not-for-profit organizations in Surrey for softening his position on the facility. Non-profit groups rely heavily on funding from bingo and gaming facilities for their ongoing operation.

“I’ve been all over the map on this one,” Gill said. “To tell you the truth, I’m neither here nor there.”

The city’s gaming committee opposed the facility in 2006 because it didn’t fit within city policy that states: “Gaming in Surrey is to remain restricted and is only to be considered if it is part of a ‘cluster of tourism’ type facility, which is regional/provincial in scope.”

That policy hasn’t changed.

Mayor Dianne Watts said it’s time it did, and she noted the original corporate report gave the rationale for moving forward nonetheless. Part of that reasoning is that gaming in the province has changed since the policy was drafted.

However, Surrey lawyer Edmund Caissie, a former Surrey councillor, said the city could be on shaky ground by approving the application before changing policy.

“The danger is it would be considered unfair to other applicants who had to comply with the policy and spend more money,” Caissie said. “Certainly it puts the city at risk of some kind of lawsuit from another party that proceeded under the policy as it existed.”

There are currently two other applications for casinos in Surrey, both which aim to bring a “cluster of tourism” as required by policy.

kdiakiw@surreyleader.com