Georgia Straight
for February 1994, Article 4

Ain't Politics grand?

It makes such strange bedfellows, and for hypocrisy and double time double talk, there's not another show like it.

Take gambling - not that long ago you could go to jail for buying an Irish Sweepstakes ticket! Now, the same governments which forced the Irish Hospitals folks to sell their tickets with a "psst, buddy" method normally associated with the sale of dirty pictures in a Paris alley, are up to their eyeballs in all manner of gambling.

I suspect that most British Columbians like the more "liberal" approach to gambling. Thousands of us head for Nevada gaming spots every year so it might be presumed that the bluenoses are in a minority. No doubt either that a major casino or two in B.C. would do very well financially.

The question though, is what should the ground rules be?

Before we get into the political dog, pony and tapdance show which is now underway, let me state a couple of personal prejudices.

There should be a full debate in the public arena and a referendum on for profit casinos in this Province. Eveb though most of us like to take the occasional flutter on the turn of a card or pull the handle on a money eating machine (did you ever see the casino man come around to put more money into the one armed bandit?) there are major questions to be considered and the people should be heard from.

Who should get the licences and where should they be located? Can the "Mob" be kept out and if so, how? Does legalized for profit gambling mean that we may look like Atlantic City - glittering lights out front, filth and slums in the back? Should the government be involved as a partner or simply as a policeman and collector of taxes? What happens to charities which now depend upon smaller, less formal, not for profit casinos? The list goes on.

Now, hearken for a moment to some of the fascinating politics involved in the proposed Casino for Vancouver.

The Vancouver Land Corporation - VLC for short - set up by former Mayor Gordon Campbell to build low coat housing on city land given them for a song, now sees itself in the casino game and is the major local player. Campbell's mandate has changed a bit too - he is now Leader of the Opposition charged with holding such matters as changes to gaming laws under the closest of scrutiny. One of the main players in the VLC is Ken Georgetti, head of the B.C. Federation of Labour. He's there because much of the funding for the VLC comes from union pension funds. One need not point out that Mr Georgetti, under a NDP government is a very powerful voice and, indeed, Mr Georgetti has already talked his NDP budies into taking, with taxpayer dollars, 16% of the action.

The VLC has a main mover - land developer Jack Poole.

Ah, you ask, is that the same Jack Poole who, a few years back, nearly ran for the B.C. Liberal leadership? The same Jack Poole who is a crony and long time backer of former Vancouver Mayor, now Opposition Leader Gordon Campbell?

You've got it! Same guy.

The proposed waterfront Casino deal, was approved by the Vancouver Port Corporation headed by Ron Longstaffe.

Is this the same Ron Longstaffe who was recently rewarded with this job for his lifelong financial and personal commitment to the Liberal Party? The guy who replaced the popular and by all accounts, very successful Patrick Reid?

Bang on again! Same cat.

The deal, a multi, multi million dollar development has been put together, obviously at great effort and expense, contingent upon the NDP government changing the current gaming laws. So far as I know, there has been no offer of a casino licence to the Hotel Vancouver, the Waterfront Hotel, or the even more strategically placed Pan Pacific Hotel - only the VLC proposal has been given the green light.

Ah, Rafe, I can hear the government shouting - that's mischievous speculation! We intend to look very carefully at this deal before any changes to the law are proposed.

How silly of me - Of course Mike Harcourt will tell union buddies like Ken Georgetti to get lost. Without doubt the the Liberal opposition will overlook their leader's links to Jack Poole and the considerable influence Ron Longstaffe has with the federal Liberals and will scrutinize this deal with the greatest of care. How churlish of me to think that this is a "done deal" where a government, with 16% of the action, needs only to let a little time pass for appearances sake.

And of course pigs have wings.

ion though, is what should the ground rules be?