Kingston Heritage – The question will be short and simple.
But the answer could frame Kingston’s casino debate for years to come.
About a dozen people spoke at a special council meeting April 29 to formally decide whether Kingston should hold a casino referendum in the October municipal election. Most citizens spoke in favour of the idea.
Coun. Rob Hutchison, who first introduced the referendum motion to unanimous council support in mid-April, described the public meeting as intense. “People really care and they came out and expressed their opinions. Councillors demonstrated they really care too.”
After just over an hour of hearing from the public, councillors voted 11-0 to approve a referendum bylaw.
Two councillors did not take part in the vote. Coun. Bill Glover was absent, while Coun. Liz Schell declared a potential conflict of interest as her son works for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
Councillors also made one key change to the ballot question. The wording was shortened to improve the clarity. The reference to “excluding” the downtown from having a casino was removed.
The referendum sentence now reads: ‘Are you in favour of a casino in Kingston.’ Yes or No.
Coun. Hutchison says a referendum is the best approach to handling the contentious issue. “It’s not perfect but it is the better way to go, and we knew that citizens wanted to have a say and this gives them that opportunity.”
“It’s great to see that people support the decision that council made. I think it’s the right decision,” agreed Mayor Mark Gerretsen.
Most politicians were of the opinion that the fewer words on the ballot, the easier it will be for voters to understand and for the next council to have a clear outcome. “We can deal with excluding the Central Business District through the planning process,” explained Coun. Hutchison.
Kingston businessman Paul Fortier doesn’t see the need for a referendum, pointing to council’s decisive vote in 2012 to pursue a gambling facility. But with the question now approved, Fortier says he will be lobbying Kingstonians to support a casino for the jobs and economic benefit.
“We are branding Kingston to be an entertainment destination. Doesn’t it make sense that a casino would complement that?”
Fortier is worried a referendum could generate “fear mongering” among voters. “Casino and evil don’t go hand in hand. There are many positive benefits to having a casino in downtown Kingston.”
Coun. Hutchison is worried that pro-casino lobbyists will have more money to spend on a campaign to try and influence voters in the lead up to the referendum. Election rules allow registered lobbyists to spend up to $43,000. “That could be a problem,” he added.
Coun. Brian Reitzel is a casino supporter who also supported a referendum, though he doesn’t think it will change anything because voter turnout won’t exceed 50 per cent – the magic number needed to make the results binding under provincial rules. “To me, it’s not the tipping point.”
However, Mayor Gerretsen, who also supports a casino, says the results may not be legally binding but councillors would be wise to follow the outcome. “I think it has to be politically binding no matter what. I will respect what 50 per cent plus one of the people say.”
It will fall to the next council to decide whether Kingston should continue pursuing a privately-owned gambling centre.