A Vancouver park-board commissioner has told the Straight that even though she opposed the introduction of slot machines at Hastings Park in 2004, she didn't feel it was appropriate to bring a motion forward on this matter. "I don't believe that it was my place at the time to take a position on slots," COPE Comm. Lyndsay Poaps said.

Poaps said she preferred to work on park issues associated with the Pacific National Exhibition fair. When asked if she saw slot machines as a park issue, Poaps replied: "I see them as a racetrack issue, absolutely, and an issue for the community."

Last year, Vancouver city council narrowly voted in favour of a rezoning application to permit 600 slot machines at the Hastings Park racetrack, which is owned by Great Canadian Gaming Corp.