TORONTO – A debate that Mayor Rob Ford warned would be “divisive” and long lasted just a few hours as city council voted against a downtown casino and any expansion of Woodbine.
But the vote was not surprising, as even the mayor – an outspoken proponent of the casino prior to last week – said he would not support a casino without at least $100 million in hosting fee revenue.
The province suggested the city would receive just $53 million in hosting fees.
The mayor also tried to cancel the debate last week but his request was stopped by a rebellion from the majority of councillors.
Councillor Mike Layton, who led the push to reintroduce the motion at today’s meeting, received a round of applause from councillors following the vote.
“Council has come out strongly opposed to a casino in downtown Toronto,” Layton said. “This wasn’t just about a hosting fee. This was about the impact on the citizens of Toronto and the people of Ontario that don’t want us to put forward a policy that encourages more people to get addicted to gambling.”
At the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting, Ford delivered a six-minute speech on the casino issue.
“Despite the fact a lot of progress was made to find a formula that worked for Toronto and other host cities and the rest of the province, it now appears that Premier Wynne has chosen to go in a different direction,” Ford said.
“Hosting a casino in Toronto that does little to address Toronto’s financial needs and simply makes the provincial government richer is not in the best interest of Toronto. The province wants money for nothing.”
He then left the council chambers without taking questions.
VIDEO: Councillors react to city council rejecting a casino.
While Ford took time to slam the premier during his speech at city council, Kathleen Wynne shrugged off any vitriol and said the vote was “exactly as it should be” and “rightly in the hands” of the municipal government.
“We have been consistent that it’s up to municipalities whether they want to host a casino or not,” Wynne said. “The city of Toronto has made its decisions and it’s made its decision now knowing what the fair formula will be across the province.”
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