Gambling

Wednesday September 30, 2020

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday September 30, 2020

It’s time to consider shutting down casinos, theatres and malls, leading health expert says

As COVID-19 cases continue to pile up, a leading health expert says the Ontario government should consider shutting down casinos, movie theatres and shopping malls. Industry defenders, meanwhile, say closures would be unnecessary and unfair.

July 17, 2020

“Closing them completely should be a last resort. But I think we need to consider everything right now. How surgical can we afford to be?” said Dr. Abdu Sharkawy, an infectious disease specialist with the University Health Network.

Tuesday, Ontario had 554 new COVID-19 cases, down from a record-setting 700 the day before. But Sharkawy warns we haven’t come close to the peak of the second wave.

“I have no doubt that we’ll be seeing a thousand cases per day within the next two to three weeks,” said Sharkawy, who was surprised to see some Ontario casinos reopen on Monday for the first time since March. Casinos had been allowed to open since the province hit Stage 3 in mid-July, but casino operators had been negotiating unsuccessfully with the province to boost a 50-customer cap.

June 17, 2020

Those casinos are all managed by Great Canadian Gaming Co., which runs 11 casinos in Ontario, including at Woodbine and Mohawk.

Shutting casinos down wouldn’t be fair to the industry’s 17,000 workers in Ontario, said Paul Burns, president and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, the casino industry’s national trade association.

A spokesperson for the provincial ministry of health said the government is still monitoring the COVID situation across Ontario, and could implement further restrictions.

“The government, in consultation with public health experts, continues to review trends from a range of criteria on an ongoing basis to determine if public health measures need to be adjusted or tightened,” said Anna Miller. 

Allowing just 50 customers into a casino that’s designed for thousands isn’t a money-maker, said Burns. Not that it’s being done for charitable purposes, he admitted.

“They wanted to demonstrate to public health officials that they could open and operate in a safe manner. It’s not economically viable at 50 people,” said Burns. Eventually, Burns said the casino industry would like to see more gamblers coming through the doors. (The Hamilton Spectator) 

 

 

Saturday January 12, 2019

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday January 12, 2019

Paving over Ontario Place for mall, casino would be travesty

A gambling casino. A 1.6-million-square-foot “megamall.” An amusement park, including the world’s largest ferris wheel.

July 30, 2012

These are just some of the things that Premier Doug Ford has mused about locating at the site of Ontario Place, the 62-hectare park on the west side of Toronto’s downtown, adjacent to the CNE grounds.

Much of Ontario Place has been closed since 2012, when then-premier Dalton McGuinty was trying to save money. But in truth, it had been on the decline for years, the victim of outdated thinking and vision. In 2017, his successor Kathleen Wynne unveiled a partial redevelopment plan worth about $30 million, which would have seen a waterfront park be a central attraction.

That plan received strong public support, and much of the money has been spent. But Ford’s government killed it early on after being elected. Nowhere on the list of things Ford is exploring is public parkland.

February 3, 2012

This is more than just a Toronto story. Ontario Place is an important public asset for all Ontarians. Paving it over for a mall, casino or amusement park would be a travesty. But it appears that’s where Ford is headed. He appointed a crony and Conservative fundraiser to oversee the redevelopment. And considering that his environment minister is the former head of the province’s gambling corporation, anything is possible.

Ford and his brother, Rob, brought some of their plans forward while the latter was mayor and the former was a councillor. Their ideas were soundly defeated in the face of public opposition.

Now that he’s premier, Ford probably thinks public opposition doesn’t matter. It’ll be interesting to see if he’s right about that. (Source: Hamilton Spectator Editorial) 

 

Saturday September 9, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday September 9, 2017

LCBO to run 150 marijuana stores

Premier Kathleen Wynne is cornering Ontario’s recreational marijuana market by restricting sales to 150 LCBO-run stores.

June 20, 2017

The standalone cannabis outlets, separate from provincially owned liquor stores, and a government-controlled website will be the only place weed can lawfully be sold after Ottawa legalizes it on July 1.

In a move that will close scores of illegal “dispensaries” that now dot Ontario cities, the LCBO will get its product from the medical marijuana producers licenced by Health Canada.

Only those 19 and older will be allowed to purchase or possess marijuana and pot consumption will be limited to private homes.

Smoking weed will continue to be illegal in any public space, including parks, workplaces and motorized vehicles.

Prices will be kept competitive to curb the black market.

November 27, 2015

The government expects a boost in tax revenues.

Finance Minister Charles Sousa, Attorney General Yasir Naqvi, and Health Minister Eric Hoskins unveiled the plan Friday at Queen’s Park after months of work from Ontario’s cannabis secretariat.

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario, which runs the province’s 651 liquor stores, using workers who are members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, will oversee all retail sales and run the online service.

But the branding of the government’s new pot chain will not necessarily include the LCBO’s name.

September 24, 2015

“When it comes to retail distribution, the LCBO has the expertise, the experience and the insight, to ensure careful control of cannabis, to help us discourage illicit market activity and see that illegal dispensaries are shut down,” said Sousa, who has not yet determined how much tax revenue legalized weed will bring in.

Naqvi said the government has “heard people across Ontario are anxious about the federal legalization of cannabis.

“The province is moving forward with a safe and sensible approach to legalization that will ensure we can keep our communities and roads safe, promote public health and harm reduction, and protect Ontario’s young people,” the attorney general said.

There will be 40 LCBO weed stores in place across the province on July 1, 2018, 80 by 2019, and 150 in 2020. (Source: Toronto Star) 

 

 

 

 

Saturday July 14, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday July 14, 2017

Councillors support fining trespassers at Albion Falls

City councillors want to start fining people who venture beyond new barriers at Albion Falls.

“At present I think because we’re not proactively enforcing the bylaw, people are not taking it seriously,” he told the meeting.

The enforcement blitz is expected to begin after “No Trespassing” signs are put up on newly installed top-of-gorge fencing.

Some of the fencing has already gone up, and the remainder is expected to be installed by the end of this weekend, weather permitting, said parks manager Kara Bunn.

The chain-link fencing, which is expected to cost Ward 6 Coun. Tom Jackson about $75,000 from his area-rating cash, is one of the new safety measures being implemented since a Toronto photographer lost his footing and plunged to his death at Albion Falls last month.

The city is also installing new “pictorial” signs that use symbols to ensure all visitors understand the risks of walking to the brink of the 20-metre-high gorge as well as ones with maps that show the parking lots, viewing platforms and authorized Red Hill Valley and Bruce Trail side trails.

Thursday’s motion directs Bunn to report back to the committee at the end of the summer season, updating councillors on how many tickets were handed out.

Bunn said she supports enforcement after the “No Trespassing” signs have gone up but that she will have to speak to the city’s bylaw department about exactly what it will look like. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Saturday January 18, 2014

Saturday January 18, 2014Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday January 18, 2014

Delta Bingo hall to call its last numbers downtown Sunday

Delta Bingo in downtown Hamilton is closing its doors for good Sunday night after the last game is played.

There are messages announcing the closure on its website and at the location.

Councillor Jason Farr, who represents the ward where Delta Bingo has operated for years, says the city was told by its owner, Bee Eye & Gee Oh, that Delta will close and the company will concentrate on converting its St. Catharines and Fort Erie halls to electronic, or e-Bingo.

About 30 charities that fundraised through bingo events at Delta are affected.

“It means charities will have to be creative and find another way to raise that $10,000,” said Farr.

Delta Bingo has been operating in the old Kresge department store at 45 King St. E. on property leased from a numbered Ontario company. Land registry documents list developer Ralph Frisina as president. He could not be reached for comment.

Farr said there are no redevelopment plans for the site that he’s aware of.
Chuck Lemenchick, who identified himself as a company director, confirmed Bee Eye & Gee Oh is focusing on its bingo halls outside of Hamilton.

Delta’s demise doesn’t come as a surprise to local charities that used it for years, because the amounts of money raised have dwindled.

Neighbour 2 Neighbour, which started bingos at Delta in July and was making $1,000 a month, is “more than disappointed,” said executive director Denise Arkell.

“We were really counting on that as a constant source of income to support our food bank.”

Stephen Near, of the Hamilton Arts Council, said bingo revenue for the not-for-profit council has dropped 83 per cent from $26,000 five years ago. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)