Georgia Straight
for March 1994, Article 1

This week, a little closer look at how politics moves in strange and wondrous ways when the fix is in.

Most things in life carry with them a certain rhythm, a cadence if you will. You can tell when things aren't quite right by sounds - such as a knock in the engine - or by words, harmless in themselves, but which at a given moment carry a distinct message that something is wrong.

Well, I can tell you - there is a hell of a lot wrong about this Casino deal which has recently hit our fair city.

Now let's this straight - I love to gamble and, given the chance, would probably support "for profit" gambling in a referendum. What troubles me is the way in which the present proposal has got to the front of the line before there is even anything to line up for.

To recap - a partnership of the VLC Corporation, a company supposed to be for low cost housing in Vancouver, and Mirage Corporation, a hugely successful Las Vegas casino company, have proposed a casino for Vancouver's waterfront. At this point, casinos for profit are unlawful but, as we all now know, the VLC/Mirage group has good friends in Cabinet and this legal inconvenience will soon be changed to suit them.

Let me tell you what is really bugging me about this whole deal. Politicians, like the rest of us, work in predictable ways. Governments make proposals and get their spin doctors to tell us all how good we are all going to feel being bribed with our own money - then the opposition raises hell. That's our system - governments propose, oppositions oppose then we voters, like a jury after hearing two lawyers argue, make up our minds.

Let's apply these centuries old tests to the casino deal.

Back last June, Ken Georgetti, the NDP's powerful Union boss ally, in his capacity as officer and director of VLC, asked then Finance Minister Glen Clark for $100 million dollars for low cost housing (at least that's the official version). Clark gave them $15 million instead.

Now, I've been there folks. And when a government is giving $15 million to low cost housing, it spends a week polishing up the press release with high paid spin doctors, then holds a press conference complete with any minister remotely connected to the scheme plus suitable outside "friends" of the government who can be counted upon to sing the government's praises.

This deal was kept secret. It was not until that able journalistic ferret Russ Francis went to work that the government's generosity to the poor was uncovered.

Why such unbecoming modesty? Could it be that the money was paid to the VLC for something other than low cost housing? Like shares in a future casino for which the government would promise to clear all legal impediments?

Let us, gentle reader, look at another strange political phenomenon. When the casino idea became known, one would have thought that the opposition leader, especially in light of the secret $15 million deal, would have hollered foul!

But not so - Gordon Campbell had a sudden case of political lockjaw. Strange - until you consider that

Campbell started the VLC and is great political pals with Jack Poole who runs VLC and aging political boy wonder, Paul Manning, who helps him - good Liberals all (oxymoron though that clearly is).

Now, watch for the rest of the game to be played out. Gordon Campbell and Mike Harcourt have struck a deal, on a nod and a wink, if not formally. Mr Campbell will press for a referendum on gambling. Mr Harcourt, who knows that such a referendum would pass will say, "my, what a good idea."

The vote will pass and both Mr Harcourt and Mr Campbell will make a gigantic leap in logic and conclude that the public have therefore supported the VLC/Mirage proposal.

Why would Harcourt and Campbell pull their punches and make the other guy look good? Simple. If they don't make each other look good, they will each look bad - Premier Harcourt for giving a sweetheart deal to his pal Georgetti, Campbell for not opposing the same sweetheart deal for his Liberal cronies Jack Poole and Paul Manning.

As the sage once said, "the more he proclaimed his virtues, the faster we counted our spoons." When the government and opposition get into bed together, it's time to ask questions. Like this one, for openers.

How come the VLC/Mirage casino deal gets to the front of the lineup for gambling licenses before it is even legal to gamble? Could politics have something to do with it? Hmmm.