By Brent Kerrigan
Ottawa city council will consult residents about introducing permanent casino gambling in the city. A planning committee will hold public consultations on the issue April 28.
The consultations are a result of the city refusal March 4 to accept a plan for two charity casinos to compete with the larger Casino de Hull. The city said the plan needs public approval first.
“The last staff report had no public consultations,” says Coun. Elisabeth Arnold, who voted in favor of delaying the casinos. “That’s why we sent it back out.”
Arnold says council is concerned permanent casinos may attract more crime to the region, including drug use.
“We have to determine the economical, social, negative and positive effects of casinos,” says Arnold. “There’s no doubt there’s a proportion of the population that becomes addicted. The loss to communities can be very high.”
In addition, Arnold says many on council are upset at what they see as a provincial tax grab. “There’s the question of how dependent governments are on this revenue. I have heard it called the `tax on hopelessness’. In this case, the vast proportion of the profits will go to the province to replace their tax cuts.”
According to the May 7, 1996 provincial budget, charity casinos can have a maximum of 150 video lottery terminals and 40 table games. They will be about one-tenth the size of a commercial casino such as Casino de Hull. These casinos will provide up to $180 million annually to Ontario’s charitable organizations — up from the $10 million charities currently receive from roaming charity casinos.
Arnold says the City of Ottawa will gain little from the casinos because the majority of revenue will go to the province and area charities.
Star of Fortune, a Toronto-based international gaming company, had approached council with a proposal to turn the former Caplans department store on Rideau Street into a casino which would include a Second City comedy troupe. Officials at the company were unavailable for comment this week as they are meeting to determine whether they are still interested after council’s delay.
Businesses surrounding the Caplans site have mixed feelings about the impact a permanent casino would have on the area. Most say the city has not given them enough information.
“No, it won’t make much of a difference,” says Nazar Hussain, manager of Rock Junction at 151 Rideau. “It would be just like if a new bar would open down here. Since their hours are late, it doesn’t really affect us.”
“Most people will still go to Hull. There it’s nice and big. Here there are just junkies.”
But Hussain admits council should find new ways to bring business downtown.
“You have to do something to attract people to the downtown area. But there’s still the problem with parking. They don’t even give people 10 minutes. You have to fix those problems before you bring other ones in.”
But Sara Rodriguez, a cashier at Stitches, which sits opposite the Caplans building, disagrees. She says area businesses will attract those heading to a casino.
“Yes, definitely it’s a good idea for the area,” says Rodriguez. “Casinos are usually open all day, and since we stay open until 9 p.m. in the summer, it’s definitely good for us.”
She says it’s pointless to guess what kind of crime casinos may attract.
“I don’t think crime is such a big issue. Usually people go for a couple of drinks. It’s not like a club or anything. Besides, there are always security guards around.”