New Wave of Opposition to Toronto Casino
Opposition is mounting against plans to introduce a new casino in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), despite reassurances by the Finance Minister, Dwight Duncan, that no such casino will be built should the city council formally object.
Last week, two city councillors, Mike Layton and Adam Vaughan, spoke to a Queen's Park committee and charged that those who support a casino in Toronto have got "billion dollar dreams and golden miles dancing in their eyes."
Opposition to the Toronto Casino also came for fear of it "gutting" the bar and restaurant industry in the city, as well as the horse racing industry.
"Within five or six years which is typical lifespan of a casino, the casino will disappear as well," predicted Vaughan. "Then what have you got on your hands?"
Calls for Local Referendums
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp rolled out plans to significantly increase casinos and betting establishments across the province in a bid to increase revenues.
The lottery corporation plans to start accepting proposals from the private sector to begin the development of casinos by the end of this year.
When announcing the plans, the finance minister promised that no city would be forced to accept the proposals if their council objects, and the OLG would not accept developments not backed by the local government.
However, Toronto councillors such as Vaughan and Layton are demanding mandatory local referendums on the expansion of gambling in Toronto and the rest of the province.
"Local communities must be heard in order the make the right decision, on whether or not to host casinos," said Layton.
He said that the government seemed "desperate" to collect revenue from any source, including gambling.
"So desperate that it will turns its back on democracy and place its bets," he said.
Finance Minister Reiterates Casino Promise
Finance Minister Dwight Duncan reiterated his promise that no municipality in the province would be forced to accept a casino in its midst if there was opposition.
"We've had a number of discussions within caucus about the issue, within not just the whole caucus, within the Toronto caucus, there are a number of members who are very supportive and a number of members who don't support," he said.
"Again, we are leaving the choice up to municipalities and we would not impose anything on municipalities that does not wish to host a casino."
