Scarborough, downtown councillors at odds over casinos.
Scarborough Community Council members voted this week in favour of supporting in principle the development of casinos in Toronto.
File photo
Downtown and East York councillors have moved to keep casinos out of their territory, while Scarborough councillors declared gambling houses, at least "in principle," are OK for Toronto.
It's a good bet the two community councils, in stating their positions at separate meetings Tuesday, Feb. 14, are playing a poker game of their own.
The Toronto and East York councillors asked Toronto's chief planner to report six months from now on "any necessary actions" to prohibit casinos - which are not legal under current zoning rules anyway - in their area.
With the future of Ontario Place under discussion, Trinity-Spadina Councillor Adam Vaughan said he's had many calls from residents and businesses worried about what a downtown casino would do to nearby neighbourhoods.
Scarborough community councillors, who hadn't planned on discussing the issue, heard about the downtown vote on Twitter, said Paul Ainslie, the Scarborough chairperson.
"That kind of got my nose out of joint," he acknowledged Wednesday, particularly when, he said, Scarborough councillors were told last week the only way they'd get a subway in Scarborough is to "find money" for it.
Scarborough's representatives passed a motion supporting, in principle, "the development of casinos in Toronto."
"We want a debate on it and not just to shut the doors on a revenue source that could make the city a better place," Ainslie said.
Scarborough Centre Councillor Michael Thompson, the city's economic development chair, said the casino conversation started before the Toronto and East York vote "came up."
A casino, he said, "has been top of mind for quite some time now. It's been a big issue in my office."
Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday had spoken at the city's executive committee about a casino being a possible source of money for transit projects. Thompson said he doesn't subscribe to this, since the city also needs resources for day care and affordable housing too, but added it's important to know what a casino could do for Toronto.
Thompson acknowledged some people are strongly against casinos but said there is a demand for them in Toronto, including downtown.
"A lot of things scare people. We need to take the fear out of these concerns people may have," he said.
Vaughan said Scarborough councillors may want a casino to pay for transit projects, but revenue from them wouldn't come close to what they'd need.
"Casinos are not cash cows for cities. They're cash cows for provinces and casino operators," he said, asking why, "if they are generating lots of money for the province" did economist Don Drummond recommend to the province in his report Wednesday that one of the two casinos in Niagara Falls be closed.
"If they want casinos in Scarborough, they're entitled to," Vaughan said, adding "I'm not a Puritan," but while annual casinos at the CNE in August are "a novelty," large, permanent casino have a different effect.
"You attract a full-time casino culture."
Scarborough-Agincourt Councillor Chin Lee, the only Scarborough councillor to vote against the casino motion Tuesday, said he did so "because of all the things I've heard about casinos and the social issues associated with (them)."
Lee said he felt his colleagues didn't have enough information. Yes, casinos can bring economic benefits but drawing away part of residents' income may affect the local economy too, he said.
Ultimately, it is up to the province and its Ontario Gaming Commission to approve a casino.