Toronto Mayor Rob Ford took some time between casting a fishing line and taking aim at a firing range to weigh in on the casino debate on Thursday.
Ford drew a crowd of reporters and photographers as he tested his outdoor skills on a tour of the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show at Exhibition Place, which runs Feb. 7-10.
When asked about his views on a casino in Toronto, he repeated his support for one in the Port Lands or at Exhibition Place.
“I have no idea how the votes are gonna go in council,” he said.
“But I don’t know how people can refuse $150 million or $200 million of revenue and 10,000 good-paying jobs. I don’t see how they can say no to that.
“I just wouldn’t want to lose it to Vaughan or Mississauga.”
In March, the city manager will report to council with public feedback about a Toronto casino,and council will vote on the matter in April.
Cadillac Fairview and MGM Resorts want to build a casino at Exhibition Place, while Las Vegas Sands and Caesars Entertainment have proposed a similar complex at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
A recent Ipsos-Reid poll showed 52 per cent of Torontonians were in favour of a city casino, 42 per cent were against and six per cent were undecided.
— With files from Shawne McKeown
diamond joe quimby probably will eat for free at the buffet and get comped.
casino is always the last ditch effort to screw over the poor / middle class.
no casino in t-dot.
“Wouldn’t want to lose to Mississauga or Vaughan”…sounds like the mayor is talking about the casino like another one of his football games.
So Rama and Fallsview would need to cut jobs for the Toronto casino to add jobs???
So if the same gamblers just move over from Rama and Fallsview to a casino in Toronto, the amount of money that the Province collects remains the same. Does that justify spending a billion dollars or more on building a new casino? Wouldn’t there be some better uses for the billion dollars?
Here Here! Let’s invest in something positive, that brings this city together and benefits everyone, not in this casino that will benefit only a few and put most of the $$ in U.S investors pockets. This casino will do great damage to the Toronto “brand” (what’s left of it anyway). Keep Toronto CASINO free!!!
No CASINO in Toronto!
The American casino corporations can tell us whatever they want about revenues, FORD will gobble it up – hook, line and sinker – then make the same promises to the city, but reality is, this will never happen. The city will not see the revenue they promise, nor the jobs. It’s a big smokescreen that will ultimately lead to social problems, traffic congestion, illegal activity. The so called revenues will only benefit these U.S. investors and the corrupt OLG. Say NO to this Casino NOW!
Gambling addiction causes many family and financial problems and affect children and relationships. Is the gain of a casino worth these costs? Why not put the money to build places that are beneficial and healthy for all people, young and old, able and disabled like another Variety Village where they can improve their health through exercise, socialize, foster inclusion, etc. through various programs?
S you are saying we should all be baby sat and coddled by the government because some people cant control it. So people suffer because a small percentage cant control thee addiction? You sure are one brain washed little boy.
““But I don’t know how people can refuse $150 million or $200 million of revenue and 10,000 good-paying jobs. I don’t see how they can say no to that.”
I can say no to that. NO!
Ten thousand jobs? Not hardly. $150 million in revenue? Exactly WHERE will all that money come from? (Certainly not from my empty pockets.)
I wonder what percent of the deal will end up in the Fords’ pockets if the deal gets through …..
It all depends on where the gambling money is coming from doesn’t it?
If you compare Statistics Canada tables for average family income, with the tables for average household expenditure, it seems that,on average, families in Canada are spending more money than they receive in income. This is especially true in Ontario, and even more so in Toronto. Apparently families are borrowing more and more money each year in order to continue to spend more than they earn in income.
How many billions of dollars do gamblers have to lose each year to support a casino in Toronto? Since Toronto families (on average) are already spending more than their incomes, in order to lose those billions of dollars needed to operate a casino, families either have to borrow even more money or, alternatively, stop spending money on something else.
The casino gains jobs, some other activity loses jobs.
Or perhaps they expect all of the gamblers to come into Toronto from some foreign countries???
@knotme
Gamblers in Toronto go to either Rama or Fallsview. If there were to be a casino in Toronto, they wouldn’t need to travel anymore so everything works out.