Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Monday, April 08, 2013

Rob Ford issues written defence of casino

Mayor Rob Ford has released an open letter calling a downtown casino resort a “golden opportunity” Toronto cannot pass up.

Ford's office released the letter to media outlets, including the Star, on the weekend rather than wait for City Manager Joe Pennachetti's major report on the casino opportunity expected to be released as early as this week ahead of votes by Ford's executive committee and then full council.

The 11-paragraph letter, which begins “Dear Friends”, states Ford has always said he would support a casino if it “produces thousands of good quality jobs and generate millions of dollars for important city services.

After reviewing all available information, consulting with my council colleagues and members of the public, I am confident Toronto faces a golden opportunity ...,” Ford said.

He notes that gambling is not new to Toronto, where 2,500 slot machines at Woodbine race track generates more than $600 million in revenue — without an increase in crime — and people buy lottery tickets, engage in off-track betting and more.

“The fact is, too many people in Toronto are unemployed,” Ford's letter states, noting Toronto's jobless rate is higher than the national average and neighbouring cities. Without citing a source, he pegs the difference at about 80,000 jobs.

The mayor also notes that last year council adopted an economic growth strategy designed to stimulate job creation and lure more investors to Toronto.

“Conferences, conventions and exhibitions provide business travellers an opportunity to visit Toronto and see the opportunities here,” the letter states.

“Toronto currently ranks 33rd in North America for convention business. Neither the Metro Toronto Convention Centre or the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place can attract top tier conferences. We need to change that. Toronto is the fourth largest city in North America ...

“I would like Toronto to work together with the province to create a new integrated convention and gaming complex that would boost our economic growth and create jobs.”

Ford notes private casino operators say they are prepared to invest $2 billion to $3 billion “or more” in a Toronto complex that would include a casino, convention and meeting space, restaurants and retail.

He argues that: “For a project this size, Toronto should share equally in that revenue with the province. This would provide Toronto with up to $150 million in annual revenue. New property taxes and potential lease income would add to that.”

That appears, at the moment, to be wishful thinking. Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., which plans for one new privately built and operated casino resort in the GTA, had estimated Toronto's hosting fee at $50 million to $100 million.

However, when negotiations between OLG and the city were in final stages, Premier Kathleen Wynne reacted to complaints of preferential treatment for Toronto by ordering OLG to devise a single hosting fee formula to all cities.

That formula, provincial sources say, might still see Toronto promised something close to $100 million. Ford has privately told OLG officials he wants Toronto to get $150 million per year.

Ford unleashed another flurry of figures, arguing the casino “would create 10,000 new permanent jobs at an average salary of about $55,000 and inject $1.2 billion into Toronto (and Ontario's) annual GDP. Construction would create an additional 7,000 to 11,000 temporary jobs.”

Citing no sources, Ford estimates “a top tier convention and gaming complex” would attract an additional 130,000-plus business visitor and generate an additional $392 million in spending.

Figures promising a revenue and jobs jackpot, used widely by OLG and casino operators, have been called into question by a report from the U of T's Martin School of Prosperity. The figures, “all of them meaningless”, are conveyed in a “remarkably skewed” and “misleading manner,” the report states.

Ford concludes his argument for a golden opportunity “we probably won't see again for a generation” by arguing that city revenue from a casino could fund public transit expansion — without new fees or levies.

“Rather than just imposing new taxes to fund transit expansion, the city could dedicate its $150 million share to building new rapid transit that our city needs, while keeping Toronto an affordable place to live,” Ford states.

However, even if the city could reap $150 million per year from a casino, that wouldn't build much transit.

Last week, the provincial Metrolinx agency unveiled 11 proposed “revenue tools”, including road tolls, to generate an extra $2 billion a year for transit and transportation projects in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Areas.

Cost estimates for the Sheppard subway extension that Ford favours have ranged from $1 billion to $3 billion.

Ford does not mention predictions of a rise in social problems, including problem gambling, family strife and suicide, that prompted Toronto's board of health to vote 9-1 to recommend council say no to a casino.

However, he concludes by noting that OLG says there will be a new casino in the GTA (it also says, however, it won't force one on an unwilling community).

If the casino is not in Toronto, “it will be right on our border. But, the fact is, building there won’t benefit the province as much. And, it won’t benefit Toronto at all,” the letter states.

Ford's letter is the latest salvo in an intensifying battle for public and council opinion. On Thursday, more than 250 GTA faith leaders released their own open letter urging council to reject a casino. A day later, restaurateur Oliver & BonaciniOliver & Bonacini announced conditional support for a casino as part of an expanded Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Front St. W.

Original Article
Source: thestar.com
Author:  David Rider

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