They finally did it! They came to invade that which I considered my second home. I should have known Toronto could not resist it. When New York was infiltrated, I hoped Toronto would be spared. I was a fool to put my faith in such silliness. Toronto had always submitted willingly to follow New York's lead. I thought for something as devastating as building as casino, the politicians would had better sense but I was just a hopeless believer in humanity.
It is all dollars and cents. “We have an opportunity to take our convention and our tourism market to the next level. Great, thriving cities don’t stand still,” said Tourism Toronto chief executive David Whitaker (thestar.com). New York is not exactly a stone throw away but why should Toronto lose out. Gamblers are known to go the extra mile to seek a good wager. It would create enormous job opportunities and rake in millions in tax revenues.
The price will be paid in some was or another. The Archbishop of Toronto, Cardinal Thomas Collins had become sadly aware of the grievous suffering experienced by individuals and families because of gambling dependence (thestar.com). “It could be hundreds of thousands of Peter, Mary, and Nancys that are at stake here,” said Dominic Tse, senior pastor at the North York Chinese Community Church. “We must say no.” The pastor told thestar.com. Yet Toronto’s mayor Rob Ford seem firm to see the project through. Soon there would be a casino is every major city.
Pastor Tse is exaggerating hundreds of thousands of Peter, Mary, and Nancys.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, it grossly overstated. As a concern religious leader, pastors tend to get emotional and dramatic. They are the ones doing the social work to pick up broken lives.
DeleteI took this quote from your first link
ReplyDelete"Jan Jones, an executive vice-president with Caesar’s Entertainment, which wants to locate in an expanded Metro Toronto Convention Centre, noted she is a former Las Vegas mayor and said she understands the controversy around the issue."
As ex-mayor of Las Vegas I think Jan Jones know better. The people of Toronto will eventually adjust to it. We can't assume everyone will gamble just because a casino is there. Once it is no longer a fad, it back to life as usual.
After things had died down it will be business as usual but some people will get hooked. Although not as much as hundreds of thousands, some poor guy will be a victim and it is not going to be very nice if it was your close kin.
DeleteGambling had been in Ontario for decades already since the first casino was set up in Windsor in 1994. The CNE casino features 86 table games. (Source: Toronto Casino Facts)
ReplyDeleteAdding a resort class casino is not really the issue since there are casinos already in Ontario. I don't think efforts to prevent it will be successful. It would only hinder the progress of the city. I would agree with David Whitaker that it would be good for tourism. The focus should be on how to live with it.
Interesting you are a gambler. Anyway, I agree that the constructive action is to learn to deal with and not get in the way of the city's progress. The mayor seemed determined to see it through too. So, if you can't beat them then you might as well join them huh? You will be surprise with my method to deal with it.
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