Fords exec committee pushes casino debate to council

Mayor Rob Ford's executive committee has approved a motionthat willmove thedebate over whetherToronto should host a casino inthe downtown core, orExhibition Place, to city council.

The vote passednine tofour in favour of the motion whichsupported city manager Joe Pennachetti's report last week that made 43 recommendations council should consider if it were to go ahead with agaming facility.

Pennachetti and city staff appeared before the 13-member committee earlier today to answer questions about his report.

The city manager, while replying to a question from Coun. Cesar Palacio about thethe casinos undetermined hosting fees, promised they would be delivered by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., before the end of April.

"OLG is reviewing the formula but they will have their formula made public, to our knowledge, by the end of this month," Pannachetti said.

Police Chief Bill Blairalso appearedto answer questions, asked whether casinos increased the crime rates in neighbourhoods where they're located, specifically Woodbine Racetrack.

Blair said police have not found statistical evidence to link criminal activity directly to the Etobicoke-basedfacility that boasts more than 2,500 slot machines.

"Violence does occur in some proximity to that, but it is more related to the neighbourhood in which it's taking place," he said.

Blair told the councillors he had been consultedabout the impact of a casino on a municipality for the city manager's report, and he'dspoken with police chiefs inMontreal, Niagara Falls, Las Vegas and Singapore about the issue.

"They indicated that they had not seen any increase in organized criminal activity or public safety concerns at those locations," he said.

But when pressed by Coun. Adam Vaughanabout whetherhe had spoken to police chiefs in Vancouver and its surrounding municipalitiesan area with seven casinosBlair said he had not.

Earlier in the morning, councillors questioned city staff

Committee members listened to arguments on Mondayfrom city residents, business owners, community groupsand evenLas Vegas casino representatives.

But even after 11 hours of input, some peopletouting strong opposition to any type of casino expansion in Toronto, the mayor wasn't swayed from his own opinion.

"I want to see a casino approved. Carry it on to council and take it from there," said Ford.

Unionized downtown hotel worker Chris Koehler agrees, and said a casinothat brings10,000 unionized jobs to the citycould boost the standard of living for low-incomeresidents.

"Being in the union for almost 15 years now, the benefits I've received from that, I think other people could benefit from that also," said Koehler.

Many among the 200 who waited to speak for three minutes yesterday remain opposed to a casino.

Toronto resident Angela Emerson said a casino will only bring social problems to the city.

"I feel so strongly that a casino will be bad for the city," she said.

Released last week, the city managers report calls for a 50-50 split of casino profits with the province, with the city taking in no less than $100 million annually.

The province has yet to agree to that formula, which would give Toronto a far richer share of the profits than host municipalities in other Ontario communities.