Earlier this year, a very public debate raged on whether downtown Vancouver should house a mega-casino. The casino could have generated revenue, provided jobs, and been a new source of economic development for the city. Located in Yaletown-False Creek, it would have been the biggest casino in western Canada.
In a time of economic instability, we need to find all the creative sources of revenue we can, to ensure vital programs and services continue to be available to serve our city. But it’s also critical that Vancouver elect a government that’s clear about what it stands for, so that when you vote you can feel confident that the government you elect reflects your values, too.
The bottom line is, the mega-casino was not the right priority for our city. It’s not just a question of revenue — we have to ask ourselves: what kind of city do we want Vancouver to become?
All across the city, Vision heard the answer loud and clear: the citizens of Vancouver do not support a mega-casino in Vancouver. We listened, and we acted on your priorities. The Vision-led City Council voted with their values, and took a clear position against the development of this casino, as well as passing a moratorium on the expansion of gambling in Vancouver.
The casino issue is an example of the clear choice in the election on November 19th. Suzanne Anton and the NPA have said that they support a mega-casino in False Creek, saying it fits with their vision for Vancouver’s future.
Vision disagrees. Vancouver’s economic future is in high-growth industries like digital media and clean energy – not a Vegas-style casino. It also doesn’t fit with the family-oriented neighbourhoods that are growing in and around False Creek. A mega-casino is the wrong priority for Vancouver.
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