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Casino workers’ union glum about pile-on of opposition, fears that all jobs will be lost

March 8th, 2011 · 64 Comments

Another round of speakers Tuesday night, ably tweeted by several at the meeting. Earlier in the day, I spoke with the president of the casino workers’ union and others about the wave of opposition that has emerged. Story here.

As well, just to try to sort out some of the past, I am appending here key council reports and media stories that tell us how we got here. To sum up briefly:

– Council holds a public hearing on the rezoning of the whole area in October 28, weeks before the election. The original report, read closely, does allow for a major casino. But no one pays attention at the time because all attention is focused on how the area is being upzoned to help pay for the roof. Speakers are more concerned about the roof, the lack of community amenties in exchange for the extra density, and a sense that everything is being pushed through quickly.

– In March 2010, right after the Olympics, the premier announces a grand new entertainment centre at BC Place with a casino — the first that anyone hears of plans for a grand new destination project.

Paragon application to go from 60 to 75 tables

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20070130/documents/p2.pdf

Original report from planners recommending a public hearing for the rezoning in September 2008

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20080916/documents/p6.pdf

Minutes of that meeting

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20080916/documents/rcmins20080916.pdf

Council vote on going to public hearing

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20081016/documents/ph5summary.pdf

Public hearing part 1, Oct. 28 (video)

http://cityofvan-as1.insinc.com/ibc/mp/md/open/c/317/1202/200810281900wv150en,003

Public hearing part 2, Oct. 30 (video)

http://cityofvan-as1.insinc.com/ibc/mp/md/open/c/317/1202/200810301915wv150en,002

Minutes of the decision after public hearing in October

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20081016/documents/phmin20081016.pdf

Campbell announces new casino and entertainment complex

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/03/26/bc-vancouver-casino-bc-place.html

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  • S Garossino

    The landlord of the property has said Paragon Gaming can extend their lease, so thankfully the jobs should be safe.

    @mezzanine–you say:

    “If we can’t pass this casino…the CoV will have decide to limit expansion of services it can provide, or increase taxes.”

    But that will be true whether they pass the casino or not. There’s no magic bullet here.

  • Max

    @S Garossino:

    Yes, the lease may be extended but for how long?

    That area is slated for development, condos units, a practice rink for the Canucks etc.

    So, maybe what…a year? And then what?

    The employees being effected have a right to worry. Even on the off chance that they amalgamate with another casino/ River Rock, it is more that likely that not all jobs will be saved.

    To belittle or dimsiss the employees worries is just….sad.

  • mezzanine

    @S Garossino,

    i suppose that it’s a truism about taxes, but I’m sure that any administration and the populace have a motivation to keep providing/extending services while keeping tax increases to a minimum.

    Richmond, from the GS link:

    ““We have our casino here in Richmond, which contributes quite a bit of money, around $11 to $12 million a year to the city that we use for all kinds of programs,” Halsey-Brandt told the Straight in a phone interview. “Obviously, I’m not in favour of a huge casino in downtown Vancouver, which could take players away from our casino here. If it was one of a comparable size, I have no problem.””

    Langley:

    “One of these is the City of Langley’s Cascades Casino. It has 826 slot machines and 19 gambling tables. According to Mayor Peter Fassbender, the casino provides around $6 million a year to the city.

    “The only concern that I have with ours or other casinos is more the social costs of casinos, in terms of problem gambling and those kinds of things,” Fassbender told the Straight in a phone interview. “Other than that, the community has definitely financially benefited from the casino here.””

    Burnaby:

    “Burnaby city councillor Nick Volkow is proud of his city’s Grand Villa Casino, saying it’s “probably the number one casino in the Lower Mainland”. Grand Villa has 1,000 slot machines and over 50 gambling tables.

    Volkow conceded that the proposed mega-casino in Vancouver may have “some business impact” on Burnaby’s gambling establishment. “

  • mezzanine

    but then again, i’m not dogmatically attached to building this casino. if paragon is rejected, then we will have to ask ourselves what the CoV will do with less-than-projected revenues, raise taxes or limit growth of services.

    ——

    if it is rejected, IMO either another proponent will apply for a casino somewhere else in NEFC by the stadia.

    if not, then i suspect richmond/river rock will apply for the quota of gaming activity from paragon’s bid.

  • mezzanine

    FYI vancouver is fourth among metro vancouver WRT casino revenue for municipalities.

    “The City of Richmond earned $11.7 million in 2009 from its share of casino revenue at River Rock – more than any other local city got from gambling.

    Grand Villa host city Burnaby was close behind at $10.3 million, followed by Coquitlam (Boulevard Casino) at $8.8 million, Vancouver (Edgewater and Hastings Park) at $7.6 million, Langley (Cascades) at $6.7 million, New Westminster (Starlight) at $6.1 million and Surrey (Fraser Downs) at $2.9 million.”

    http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/116959573.html#

  • Everyman

    All this Metro Vancouver casino building reminds me of the tax credit war North American jurisdictions use to attract film production – no new business is created, they’re just chasing the same finite pot of money. Fail.

  • The Fourth Horseman

    Exactly, Everyman.

    Considering the stratoshperic ( and extravagant) revenue claims made, one wonders that city governments can be bought so cheaply.

    Why not just collect from all casinos as they exist now and distribute back to Metro Van comunities as a whole. Since cityies host these casinos, why not get Metro Vanc transit money, for instance?

    By the way, based on claims from Paragon, projected revenues back to each citizen in Vancouver via payments works out to about $18 per year.

  • Max

    @ The Fourth Horseman #57

    ‘ Since cityies host these casinos, why not get Metro Vanc transit money, for instance?’

    *****

    Although smaller municipalities oustide of Vancouver contribute through taxes to the transit system, many are very ill serviced.

    ie: Maple Ridge. It is considered part of Metro Vancouver, therefore their taxes contribute towards the transit sytem.

    The bussing in the area is just sad.

    Outlying areas such as the above, should not have to contribute to a system that barely services them.

  • Norman

    The casino workers’ jobs should not be a consideration. Lots of people make money dealing drugs, but that’s no reason to legalize drug dealing. If they have the skills required to work at a casino they can get jobs elsewhere.

  • Max

    @Norman #59

    Wow.

    I do love how some people feel it their right to play fast and loose with other people’s lives.

    How self righteous of you.

  • Max

    Paragon warns jobs at risk if B.C. casino expansion not approved

    Rod Mickleburgh
    Globe and Mail Update

    Published Monday, Mar. 14, 2011 8:29PM EDT
    Last updated Monday, Mar. 14, 2011 8:33PM

    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/paragon-warns-jobs-at-risk-if-bc-casino-expansion-not-approved/article1941976/

  • mezzanine

    @ Norman,

    It’s all relative, isn’t it? In prohibition-era USA:

    “The [liquor] workers’ jobs should not be a consideration. Lots of people make money [making alcohol], but that’s no reason to legalize [alcohol]. If they have the skills required to work at a [liquor store/plant] they can get jobs elsewhere.”

    ……

    Anecdotally, some people who I know who work at the casino do like the flexible hours that it provides.

  • S Garossino

    The workers’ jobs are important. They should matter to all of us. They matter to me. It matters that single moms feel they will be out on the street by 2013 unless Vancouver approves a massive casino expansion now.

    I accept without question the sincerity of the employees’ beliefs. They clearly believe that if Paragon does not get its expansion, it will shut down and leave town.

    Yet the landlord tells us he will extend the lease, and Paragon’s own presentation indicates it has been very profitable. It makes no business sense for Paragon to just shut down and leave. Better that it should sell a going concern to another operator, like Great Canadian. With the labour laws re: successors, the employees’ jobs should be safe.

    The job issue doesn’t hold up to scrutiny, unless Paragon is a lot less successful than it holds itself out to be, and a sale would be hard.

  • Norman

    Please apply the jobs logic to the outcry about Walmart.

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