HARD

 

 

 

 

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LETTITOR

 

 

     

Garth McLennan

Editor in Chiet

ll last week, proponents and

dissidents of the planned B.C.

place casino mega-project argued
their respective cases before Vancouver
city council as the municipal politicians
debated the pros and cons to permitting the
construction of the new casino.

There were passionate presentations

from both sides, and a number of

but when the deliberations are finished,
Vancouver city council should vote to
approve the project.

Now I’m aware of all the traditional
arguments against gambling that are trotted
out whenever the prospect of casinos are
brought into the public forum. Casinos
supposedly act as a magnet for loan sharks,
organized crime members and other
unsavoury individuals. Problem gambling
skyrockets, which can have a devastatingly
negative impact on B.C. families.

When it comes to an increase in
organized crime, that’s an overblown
argument. The fact is, B.C. has been a
hotbed for mob figures of all stripes for a
very long time now, and refusing to expand
the Vancouver infrastructure in the fear
that criminals might hang around is, qtite
frankly, a bit ridiculous.

As for problem gambling, well,
there’s no question that it comes with the
territory when a new casino is built. But
you know what? So does alcoholism when
a new liquor store opens. There has to
come a point in our society when certain
people stop expecting the government to

 

convincing arguments made by both sides, °

New B.C. Place casino will be good for Vancouver

nanny them. We’re all responsible adults
here, and with that comes an expectation
of responsibility for yourself. There is a
contingent of people out there who have
great difficulty with alcohol. Does that
mean we should outlaw liquor? Of course
not; the vast majority of people are capable
of enjoying a drink without things getting
out of hand. It’s the same situation with
gambling. The entire experience shouldn’t
be ruined for the rest of us because a few
people have gambling problems.

Aside ftom social concerns, there is
the fear from apprehensive taxpayers that if
Paragon fails (it doesn’t manage any large-
scale casinos or resorts in Las Vegas), then
B.C. citizens will be on the hook for the
bill.

Now, while it’s clear that the ghosts of
the Olympic Village fiasco are still fresh
in everyone’s minds, the risk (which isn’t
that high) is worth the reward. When the
new casino, which will replace Edgewater
Casino, is built, it will be a destination
resort working in concert with B.C. Place.
Complete with two hotel attachments, the
stadium, retail shops and restaurants, this is
going to be a place people want to be. It’s
going to generate money for the province
and for Vancouver (Paragon is projecting
annual revenue streams totalling figures in
the neighbourhood of $538 million).

Vancouver has transformed itself over
the last 15 years into a truly world class
city, in large part because of mega-projects
like this one. With the city’s visibility on a
global scale at an all time high a year out of
the Olympic Games, expanding on that can
only be a good thing.

 

 

 

    

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