As noted by columnist Joanne Chianello, voting for the casino “in principle” will remove decision-making from both council and the public. And bingo – there will be a casino wherever the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. wants to put it. OLG will go through the whole bidding process in secret.
There are many reasons for not making gambling more accessible, as pointed out by many at last week’s consultation meeting. For these reasons, I am against the casino in principle. But of even greater concern is the way this decision is being rushed through. Sadly, I believe Mayor Jim Watson has lost perspective on true public consultation and transparency, two important components of a functioning democracy. We should not get involved in a project where even the city will lose input to the decision about where the casino will go.
I ask the councillors to vote to stop or slow down this casino project. It should not proceed in secret with no council or public consultation. What’s the hurry?
Jo Wood, Ottawa
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