The District of Squamish is asking the Squamish Nation to work with the town’s planning committee on the proposed development of a gaming centre on Highway 99.The Squamish Nation is currently in negotiations with Boardwalk Gaming and Entertainment Inc. for a gaming hall that would involve a bingo, artisans’ gift shop and approximately 100 slot machines in a 20,000-square-foot facility. Since the centre would be located at Valley Drive and the highway, it would act as a prominent gateway feature to the community.
The district showed it was not keen on such a landmark when it rejected the B.C. Lottery Corporation’s proposal to build the mini-casino in the municipality if it sat within sight of Highway 99. The corporation turned to the Squamish Nation’s roadside land instead.
-------------------------
Don Quixote Note: The BCLC strikes again. Rejected by one group of people, they set up their economic cash sucking machine just across the border.
BCLC Mantra:
It's the same old story
Everywhere I go
I get slandered
Libeled
I hear words I never heard in the Bible
And I'm one step ahead of the shoe shine
Two steps away from the county line
Just trying to keep my customers satisfied
Satisfied
-----------------------
Bryan Raiser Special to the Chief April 11/08
Recently, many have been asking just why a slot barn is being proposed for the entrance of Squamish. Good question. It started years back when Gordon Campbell’s Provincial Liberals needed some fast cash after countless economically crippling decisions. So they did what any questionable organization would do, they aggressively increased gambling revenue. Apart from unavoidable plasma screens, Internet gambling, and millions of tax dollars spent on advertising (while gambling support groups closed due to lack of funding), they also began the digital slot barn boom.
It is no secret that BC Lotteries has wanted to tap Squamish’s keg for a long time yet our community and council repeatedly said, “No thank you, we have enough problems.” Recently however, BC Lotteries came to council and essentially gave an ultimatum: “If you don’t take it, Squamish Nation will and you’ll lose all control and funds.” So what is a penniless district to do?
Either way we’re getting the problems slot machines bring, yet in one scenario we’ll have a revenue stream to offset the astronomical social costs. Otherwise we get all the problems and none of the benefits. Our mayor and council chose the very expensive high road. They say “nothing is free,” and that goes double for gambling revenue. Sure the money is sweet, but it’s not an exaggeration to say that every gambling dollar spent costs taxpayers $1.50 to help the families destroyed.
It’s also important to recognize that the proposed project isn’t a casino. There are no card games where the gambler traditionally has a chance. No, here there will mostly be video slots that have recently been coming under fire for their questionable practices. Personally, slot machines depress me. I know cards are fun, but the first time I saw those rows of pasty people on slots, I was shocked. Some patrons were throwing pensions into three machines at once. Then, when chatting up the staff, they told me that a store next door sells thousands of diapers so people don’t have to leave the machines.
Then the staff had to go check the parking lot for infants in cars and disperse the “casino kids” who wait outside while their inheritance is drained under bright lights. Now, it’s not a done deal, but since our council chose problems without profits we have to start thinking “outside the slot,” and I say we go whole hog! Muni hall should get a numbers racket going to bet on when/who will be the first of the inevitable. The first to lose their house, the first to hit the bottle, the first hit their spouse, and of course what would a new gaming centre be without the first gambling suicide?
Since it’s inevitable the moment those doors open, we may as well have the proceeds go to our hospital, women’s centre, and RCMP so we can add it to the countless other taxpayer dollars that will be spent cleaning up the mess.
-----------------
Don Quixote Note: Apparently this was an-in camera ultimatum. Sounds similar to Dark Side Meeting that BCLC had with Vernon Council before the Casino was expanded. Now, I'm sure that the PR department from the BCLC did not suggest anything of this possibility at the Dark Side Meeting but this idea was expressed by some of the Council Members during the Casino relocation and expansion debate.
2 comments:
This just goes to prove that the provincial liberal party does not give a hoot about local government and hides behind the BCLC to carry out there hideous plans and using the likes of Mr Walker-how much does he get paid per year? Would be interesting if former Mayor Gray would ever make a comment and show that he has not sold his soul to BCLC now that he is on their Board!
I am very impressed with this list! Thank you. It's really going to help me out.
Post a Comment