City Council — May 2013

Called a casino meeting just to watch it die.

So wrap up this casino stuff quick, guys.

Some debate at council over whether it's necessary for the City Manager to give his presentation again. He says he has new information.

Pennachetti gives the impression of supporting a downtown casino. Will be interesting to hear him reflect on all this post-retirement.

Pennachetti says staff worked on the weekend to work out revised hosting fee based on latest formula. Hoped to have info earlier.

Bottom line. City hosting fee: $39m based on 175,000 square foot casino floor area.

Can someone ask for a ballpark estimate on how much the city spent on casino reports/consultations over the last year?

Woodbine hosting fee: $22m if they add tables, up from $15m.

Pennachetti says between hosting fee, property taxes, lease revenues (at Exhibition), it'd be an extra $70m in revenue, maybe.

The thing to remember: it's likely that the downtown casino issue will return within next few decades. Need to define a better process.

("Within the next few decades" is likely an optimistic view. It could return in a year-and-a-half.)

Mammoliti is up to ask questions of the City Manager. Fingers crossed for a reference to the casino boat.

Through questions, Mammoliti unintentionally hints that any new casino rev would be used to fund property tax freezes for a couple of years.

Doug Ford has questions. He asks if the OLG formula works like a lot of people wrongly assume income brackets do.

The PC party line is no casinos without municipal election, as far as I know. Doug seems to differ.

Now Doug Ford has called Kathleen Wynne the "unelected premier." Now some ranting about Paul Godfrey getting fired. Now he sits down.

Pennachetti says staff report urged any downtown casino not have a theatre, minimal retail space. Sure MGM would have loved that.

Frank Di Giorgio points out the province has altered the revenue formula. I pray that they do not alter it further.

Best pro-casino councillors can offer is arguments hinging on a casino resort coming to Markham or Vaughan. But is that even a sure thing?

Huh. Maybe they will just stick with "ignore everything" as their comms strategy on this one.

What's the Ford statement scoop now, @joe_warmington?

Ford up to speak on the casino. Here we go.

Ford has a casino-related motion. Just what we've all been waiting for.

Ford's motion: "City Council opposes the development of a new casino anywhere in the C1 Zone."

His motion also supports an expansion of gaming in Zone C2, which is Woodbine.

"Toronto has spent a year grappling with this issue," says Ford. "We made significant progress with the previous premier."

"Despite the fact that this was the government's idea from the very beginning, we carried the load," says Ford. Blaming the province.

Ford: "I don't know why the government has changed its mind. I don't know they will not support a fair share for Toronto."

Ford says he never campaigned on the issue of a casino. Which is true for 2010, but not for the last year.

"However, it seems no deal is good enough for this premier," says Ford divisively. He throws a few rocks at the burning bridge.

Free idea: someone ask Ford how expanded gaming at Woodbine will work with the Woodbine Live! development.

Layton has a motion that would amend the report to oppose all new casinos, plus casino expansion at Woodbine.

"No hosting fee can replace the economic loss of people flushing their money down the drain at a casino," says Councillor Mike Layton.

Only remaining question is how council will vote on Woodbine expansion. Proponents have benefitted from overwhelming focus on downtown.

Mammoliti up. He still wants a downtown casino, and is requesting a report on property tax revenue versus hosting fee revenue. Also jobs.

Mammoliti says denying a casino will force "extensive property tax increases." Inflation forces property tax increases.

"The needle exchange programs are important," says Mammoliti, because they help identify addicts.

His logic, I think, is that a Toronto casino would work like a needle exchange program and help social workers identify gambling addicts.

"This isn't just about a casino. It's about a destination place for the City of Toronto. It puts us above the rest!" declares Mammoliti.

Councillor Cho: "My wife said to me, if you support casino expansion, I'm going to leave you."

It seems future PC candidate Raymond Cho and probable future PC candidate Doug Ford have different views on this one.

Mike Del Grande has a motion! He wants City manager to pursue discussions with province and federal government to expand convention space.

"Why is it that the answer is always to tax more?" asks Del Grande. He's having trouble reading his points.

Del Grande eventually says he will vote against all casino proposals. Wonder if Ford ever could have got him onside.

Councillor Lindsay Luby opposes a downtown casino casino, but is cool with the Woodbine expansion. Says her constituents support it.

Lindsay Luby brings up supporting the horse racing industry. When it comes to the horse racing industry, I worry that I am a libertarian.

Councillor Mark Grimes has a motion asking that council endorse expansion of convention facilities at Exhibition Place. Sure, why not?

Councillor Fragedakis moves to extend the meeting through lunch until the item is finished. Carries 35-8. Hooray. http://t.co/hJ4dApozjB

Now Councillor Frank Di Giorgio has a motion that'd tell the province that council opposes casinos in C1 zone *outside* Toronto. Right.

Mammoliti asks Budget Chief Di Giorgio: "How are you going to balance the next budget? Without new revenue?"

Di Giorgio says he's going to try to keep property taxes "as low as possible." Also refers to "potential reduction of the land transfer tax"

From there, Di Giorgio says he'll ask for a bailout from the provincial government. Inspiring leadership.

If anyone want to go nosing around the mayor's office this weekend, his door will be open. http://bit.ly/10Mp4f1

Here comes Doug Ford, set to deliver another campaign-style speech. I assume he knows by now that the NDP is supporting Wynne's budget.

Doug Ford also decries the firing of Paul Godfrey. Were these councillors so in love with Godfrey last week?

Doug Ford says Woodbine Live! failed because the market crashed. "That wasn't anyone's fault!"

"Unfortunately it goes back to Sunday shopping," says Doug Ford. But he gets cut off before he gets to expand on that one.

Voting time. First motion is the mayor's motion: reject downtown casino, endorse Woodbine.

Voting time. First motion is the mayor's motion: rejects downtown casino, endorses Woodbine expansion. Fails 13-31. http://t.co/PBqSFDkTlX

Next. Layton's motion to reject all new casinos passes 40-4. His motion to reject Woodbine expansion passes 24-20. http://t.co/giH8laZEi8

"That carries," says Nunziata, surprised. "Kills Woodbine."

Nuisance Mammoliti motion fails 13-31. Del Grande motion to look a expanding convention space passes 44-0.

Mark Grimes motion to endorse expansion of convention space at Woodbine passes 34-10.

Correction! Mark Grimes motion to endorse expansion of convention space at Exhibition passes 34-10.

And, lastly, council supports a weird Di Giorgio motion to oppose casinos in C1 zone outside Toronto. 34-10.

Rejection of expansion of Woodbine is the big surprise. I thought they might have had that one.

Casino item as amended carries 38-6. Voted against: Rob Ford, Doug Ford, Holyday, Kelly, Crisanti, Mammoliti.

Well, that was a full year of your lives.

The mayor, of course, votes against the confirming bills. And we're done.

A real victory for Ford, who opposed casinos from day one but then spent the last year frozen in stasis while his doppelganger ran wild.

Roll credits.