City council to have casino debate on Tuesday

TORONTO – Despite an attempt by Mayor Rob Ford to cancel a vote on a casino development, city council will have the debate at a special meeting Tuesday.

Ford attempted to delay the debate on a casino at a press conference last week but a rebellion by the majority of city councillors prevented the mayor’s decision to cancel the meeting.

The majority of councillors are expected to vote against a casino in the city, leaving some questioning why councillors are bothering to hold the meeting.

But Councillor Josh Matlow said it’s important for city council – not just the mayor – to finally decide whether or not a casino is fit for the city.

“It doesn’t matter if at the 11^th hour he doesn’t decide whether he wants one or doesn’t want one,” Councillor Josh Matlow said. “We don’t have a strong mayoral system; no policy decision is made unless council makes it.”

On Tuesday, city council will discuss several reports detailing a casino’s potential effects on the local economy, neighbourhoods, congestion and health concerns.

While one report suggested the city could see some economic benefit by an increase in convention space along with the casino, another claimed a casino might have an adverse effect on the city’s health.

One city report written by the city’s Medical Officer of Health entitled Community Health Impacts of a Casino in Toronto suggests that a new casino “is likely to have greater adverse health-related impacts than beneficial impacts.”

While previously a proponent of a Toronto casino, Ford said last week that without at least $100 million in hosting fees, he would not support a casino.

The mayor had long supported estimated hosting fees between $100 and $200 million, which he suggested could go towards extending the Bloor-Danforth subway line to Scarborough and fund the repair backlog at Toronto Community Housing.

But the finance minister’s office confirmed last week that a new hosting fee formula would generate approximately $53 million for the city of Toronto – far less than the mayor’s target.