Council votes to defer key casino debates

Two key motions to open up debate concerning a possible casino in Toronto have been deferred by city council and will now be examined by the Executive Committee.

Council voted to defer Coun. Adam Vaughan’s motion to debate a referendum on a casino. They also voted to defer Coun. Mike Layton’s motion to debate keeping Ontario Place casino-free.

Last month, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG) announced plans for a casino in the GTA. Ontario Place, which is closed for redevelopment, has been floated as a potential site.

Vaughan called for a referendum on the casino issue as part of a general election.

The city held a casino referendum in 1997 and 72 per cent of residents voted against the idea. Vaughan also claims a current poll shows Torontonians’ attitudes towards a permanent gambling facility haven’t changed much.

Vaughan’s motion also highlighted concern for businesses, such as bars and restaurants, that could be hurt if a casino moves into their neighbourhood.

“Crime, suicide, prostitution, an increase in drug related crimes and loan sharking are also significant worries,” Vaughan’s motion stated. “All of these issues generate costs for the city that far outweigh any potential economic benefits that might flow from such business.”

Vaughan said the results of the 1997 referendum should still stand until a new vote is held.

“If you hold a referendum, you can’t just go around and ignore the results because the province wants to have a conversation,” he said at city hall Tuesday.

Premier Dalton McGuinty supports municipalities holding referendums on casinos.

Coun. Mike Layton’s bid to debate keeping Ontario Place off the list of potential casino sites, was also deferred.  Layton wants to reserve Ontario Place as an area for families and recreation.

Former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader John Tory is heading up an advisory panel on Ontario Place. He’s expected to report back in early May.

“…Toronto City Council must make it known now that Ontario Place must remain a public space for all Toronto residents to enjoy and we cannot afford to have a casino or other gambling facility built on it,” Layton’s motion stated.

Coun. Doug Ford said a Toronto casino would provide much-needed funds for the city.

“You can bring in a couple extra hundred million dollars to build infrastructure and transit that we’re in desperate need of. I think it would be fine as long as it’s there and creating jobs,” Ford said.

“If they built it at Ontario Place it would create over 55,000 construction jobs, over 4,000 permanent jobs. “

In other city hall developments, Mayor Rob Ford suffered another defeat after council voted 29-12 to halt plans to privatize city cleaning services.

Ford wanted to outsource the work to save money. The city employs roughly 1,000 cleaners.

And Coun. Michael Thompson recommended that the city create an early warning system to detect and act on abused immigrant children.

The motion was prompted by the horrific death of Melonie Biddersingh, a 17-year-old girl whose charred remains were found in a suitcase in Vaughan in 1994. Her father and stepmother were charged last month after police got a telephone tip in the cold case.

The tip led to a visit to the girl’s biological mother in Jamaica, where cold-case investigators, working with the RCMP and the Jamaica Constabulary Force, obtained the DNA sample used to identify Biddersingh.

“Many of the most vulnerable immigrant children continue to fall through the cracks,” Thompson’s motion stated. “A comprehensive, coordinated, city-led initiative that brings all responsible parties to the table is a start toward a long-term solution to this tragic, heart-breaking problem.”

The matter was referred to a committee for further study.

Urban fishing and adding extra stops on the future Union-Pearson airport rail link were also discussed at Wednesday’s meeting. They were referred to the executive committee for further examination.