Faith leaders speak out against a Toronto casino

TORONTO – A group of religious leaders from across Toronto spoke out in opposition to a casino within city limits claiming society “can do better.”

Political rhetoric over a casino in Toronto has heated up recently as city council draws closer to a Spring vote on whether a casino will be allowed in the city.

The group of faith leaders, claiming to represent over 250 others across Toronto, spoke at City Hall Thursday afternoon urging city officials to join them in opposition to increased opportunities to gamble.

“We protest the establishment and expansion of a casino in the GTA area.” Habeeb Alli, Secretary for the Canadian Council of Imams said. “Is this an ethical, green and socially responsible investment?”

Mayor Rob Ford – a staunch proponent of a casino – has repeatedly pointed to the potential for increased tax revenue and jobs that a casino could hypothetically bring to Toronto.

Ford also suggested on Tuesday that money from a casino could help pay for increased public transit.

“You want to pay for transit? I’ve got a good idea—it’s a called a casino,” Ford said. “You get a lot of money to pay for a good amount of the transit and you get the private sector involved.”

Despite the potential tax windfall – which has been estimated anywhere between $5 million and $200 million – the interfaith leaders suggest increases in social issues outweigh potential tax revenue.

“We are convinced that casinos contribute to family breakdown, depression, addiction, bankruptcies and crime, and thus are antithetical to our mission as faith traditions to strengthen individuals, families and communities,” Anela Jadunandan from the Canadian Association of Islamic Schools said at the press conference.

Alli claimed that the burden of treating problem gambling will fall on social services and faith groups.

“We the faith leaders will have to pick up the pieces, and to give faith, to give trust and to give support again to these broken families,” Alli said.