OPERA HOUSE ROOF WORK - A GOOD DAY WAS HAD BY ALL
I DON'T THINK MANY GRAVENHURST COUNCILLORS SHOWED UP TODAY, TO CHECK OUT THE ROOF REPAIRS ON THE OPERA HOUSE. MAYBE I JUST MISSED THEM. BUT THEN AGAIN, MAYBE THEY'RE SO CONFIDENT WITH THEMSELVES, THEY DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT INCIDENTALS, LIKE A HALF-COMPLETED OPERA HOUSE ROOF. WELL, JUST BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT THE HISTORIC LANDMARK, AND HAD SOME TIME BETWEEN SHOP CUSTOMERS, I CONTENTED MYSELF WATCHING THE PROJECT ADVANCE UNDER GREY AND THREATENING SKIES. NO RAIN. NO SNOW. THAT WAS GOOD. I CAN LOOK OUT OF THE SHOP DOORS, AND SEE WORK IN PROGRESS. OR NOT. AS A CONSTITUENT, I HAVE A STAKE IN THE WELL BEING OF THE BUILDING, SO I'M EXERCISING MY PRIVILEGE. LET'S JUST SAY, THERE ARE A LOT OF CONFIDENT PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN. VERY FEW GATHER FOR A GANDER UP TOP. SO I MUST JUST BE A NERVOUS NELLY. BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S WHAT OLD REPORTERS DO WHEN THEY'RE RETIRED FROM THE FRONT PAGE, BACK TO THE FUNNY PAGES. SO IF YOU CAN'T GET UPDATES FROM THE PRESS……THEN I'LL STICK A "PRESS" CARD INTO THE HAT BAND OF MY OLD FEDORA, AND NOSE AROUND SOME MORE. TUNE IN FOR A FEW SPOT-NEWS OBSERVATIONAL UPDATES, BECAUSE YOU WON'T GET IT ANYWHERE ELSE. AND THAT IS A DARN SHAME.
GAMBLING ON GRAVENHURST - SO LET THE PUBLIC INTO THE DEBATE
CRIPES, THEY DON'T CALL ME "SCOOP" FOR NOTHING. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, IF YOU REMEMBER, I WROTE A BLOG ABOUT THE VERY REAL POSSIBILITY, NEW PROVINCIAL UNCLENCHING OF RESTRICTIONS, MIGHT OPEN THE AREA TO MORE GAMING LICENSES, AND CASINO CONSTRUCTION. I PONDERED THEN IF THE FORMER MUSKOKA CENTRE PROPERTY, OWNED BY THE PROVINCE, WOULD MAKE A DECENT LOCATION FOR A GRAVENHURST CASINO. AS I DIDN'T GET ANY THREATENING EMAILS, OR NOTES ATTACHED TO MY DOOR WITH A KNIFE BLADE, I'M ASSUMING YOU FOLKS HAVE ALREADY THOUGHT ABOUT THE "WHAT-IFS" OF GAMBLING CLOSER TO HOME. I COULDN'T HELP CHUCKLING THIS MORNING, WHEN I READ ABOUT OUR TOWN COUNCIL'S INTEREST IN PURSUING THE MATTER, AND A LOCAL DEVELOPER'S DESIRE TO MAKE THE PROPERTY AND BUILDING AVAILABLE, SHOULD A FULL CASINO APPLICATION COME TO FRUITION. THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL IS FOR LAND CLOSER TO MUSKOKA BAY, AND NOT THE MUSKOKA CENTRE, AS I HAD SUGGESTED AS A POSSIBLE SITE. THEY DIDN'T STEAL MY IDEA, JUST SOME OF MY THUNDER. AND KEEP IN MIND, THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF LOCALS WHO LOVE CASINOS, AND WHO GAMBLE SENSIBLY, AND WHO ARE THRILLED WITH THE ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS OFFERED BY CASINO RAMA. EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT A GAMBLER, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME HUGE ACTS ON-STAGE THERE, AND OUR BOYS HAVE BEEN AT MORE THAN JUST A FEW…..INCLUDING GORDON LIGHTFOOT AND KISS.
COUNCIL NEEDS TO LET THE PUBLIC IN, ON THIS DEBATE
While it is understood the present license proposal, advanced by the province, doesn't include us, at present, as a target region. But it's quite possible that within a few years, Muskoka and Gravenhurst will become candidates for a large scale casino, and it might even come sooner, should some of the chosen communities decide, by referendum, against hosting OLG gaming. Of course, a change of government, potentially as soon as this spring, could stall the project. But as I wrote about several weeks ago, I think Gravenhurst would make a good casino host……and as we are a first class tourist location anyway, it would certainly boost the dynamic of our local economics at a good time. The next decade could be very interesting to investors, looking more seriously at the tourist potential, and a casino would make a lot of developers take notice of the outstanding opportunities that exist here……still largely untapped. Now hold on……what is an environmental pain in the ass, who hates gambling, doing with this oddly placed confessional? Let me explain.
Even though I don't approve of gambling, I am but one of thousands of stake holders in this community. I made a point earlier, of explaining, that a casino, if even a distant possibility, would add to the local economy which has, obviously to most of us, been precariously stressed over the past five years…..and a little bit more for some in the business community. There is an economic surge that comes with casino building, that spreads into other areas of the local economy, that would most definitely create jobs and opportunities…….the kind that offers a certain amount of prosperity; a boost for a town that still has great need for a food bank, and heavy reliance on social assistance, to help a large and growing number of citizens within its population. Just because I have a personal dislike of casinos, is my opinion, and the promise I've made, for all to see who travel cyberspace, is that I will not object to any application the town may submit, for a gaming facility. I won't vote for it, so thus, I will abstain. This is as far as it goes. Admitting publicly, that it is something for the constituents in this town to consider…..seriously, as an economic boost for Gravenhurst. As far as the development it might create, I reserve the right to comment, or protest outright, if it threatens our environment at the same time, as it is intended to be an economic boost. We need the environment to be safe, conserved, managed and thriving first of all; as surrendering our natural resources here, is always dangerous when left to politicians and developers to agree on the right way to proceed. It must be done sensibly, by intelligent stewards, following all the environmental protocols set to protect us……all of us…..even gamers.
Here's my condition for supporting a casino application thus far. Public consultation. The public right to cast their opinions on the matter, and that this never, never be shoved down constituent throats, by Council's desire to advance the project….if and when! Advocating this initiative without the greatest care to facilitate democratic privilege will backfire. Trust me on this! Maybe a referendum should be conducted, to get it right. Maybe this would be included as a question during the next municipal election in two years. I'd be misleading you, if I didn't footnote this, by admitting my great fear that Council might try to get away with having only a few public meetings, when the proposal becomes more concrete……which I believe it will. The present council, whether councillors find this insulting or not….(it doesn't matter if they are), become strategically shy when it comes to public consultation, and have a track record of being about as transparent as a painted wall. So there is a great danger, on a matter of such importance to our constituents, that our elected officials will poo-poo the idea of a full referendum on gaming in our town. If they want to do this right, the first time, they shouldn't fear the public, but encourage their full and unfettered participation to create a future partnership of co-operation. As Council likes to use public meetings to gauge reaction, it must be recognized, that hundreds of citizens in our town, can not, or will not attend…..but would submit a letter of support or rejection, on a mail-in vote, or online referendum…..or similar.
For those councillors who can not fathom what I'm writing about, in terms of their habit of minimizing public scrutiny, the Haight bequeath debacle was pretty much the peak of truth, when it came to what the committee, studying the investment strategy, wanted to do with the million bucks. They found out that the public does have a right to involve themselves in the process, no matter how irritating and frustrating that reality is to town administration. So if the same kind of misguided protocol was followed, and the public was denied all the openness they deserve, as stakeholders here, then those folks sitting around the council table, should not be the least surprised, when a public challenge and protest will be engaged to ensure adequate public debate…..and in a perfect world, a referendum. At this stage, most of us appreciate the relevance of being on the list, as a community interested in OLG plans and future licensing. It's when we "move forward," as I hear so much these days, that our elected officials must take into account, that democracy prevails upon them to be open……transparent, and fair to all of us. So we need to be informed about progress in this matter. Unlike progress reports on the Opera House roof, which have been poor to nonexistent, a casino application demands a super amount of communication with constituents. It is not discretionary.
I will not write another column about a casino application. I have had my say. I believe the town is correct for pursuing this course of action, and I feel that a successful bid for a casino, will bring some economic improvement to the municipality…..as well as encourage partner developments, which will create jobs, and improve the tax base for the town. If there was a referendum, I would abstain from voting……..as to support it, with a vote, means I'd have to fight my conscience, and the knowledge I have today, of the many people who have killed themselves, as a direct result of gambling losses at casinos. If I was to vote "no" then I would be a hypocrite supreme. What's best for the community, is what the community will vote on, and either way, I hope we will one day be able to self-determine in this fashion.
I haven't taken leave of my senses. But here's something you need to consider. It's historical fact, there was a considerable time when the City of Orillia didn't see much, in the way of gain, from their proximity to Casino Rama. Of course, at the time it was constructed, Orillia had been hit with a considerable number of economic downturns, and the traditional main street corridor was going through what so many historic business sections have to deal with, when faced with malls and box stores being built in what used to be the hinterland. If you were to do a little visual research today, you would find that Orillia is on the verge of a big, big boom, and I don't think the proximity to Casino Rama is hurting one bit.
Which brings me to this concluding statement. I had a good friend who became mayor of Orillia, quite a few years back. He was known as "Big John," in the classroom of the high school where he taught history, out on the news hustings, where he was a reporter for CKVR television, and as Mayor Palmer, when he finally won the election he had been planning for decades. He admitted to me, shortly after becoming mayor, that it was a dream come true. To be mayor of his hometown. CKCO reporter Gar Lewis and I, had many working encounters with John over the years, while stringing for the local media; and we both felt the giant of a man…..he must have been over seven feet tall even without shoes, would make a great and caring mayor. Well, John lived long enough to enjoy the mayor's chair, for awhile, and had some of his aspirations realized before he died. If John had lived to see the progress Orillia has made ever since, I think he'd be pretty impressed……and may have even foreseen this growth spurt coming in that halcyon but short term of office.
Point is, Orillia is the biggest single economic threat to Gravenhurst and Bracebridge……and all you need to do, is travel there on a typical weekend, and see who isn't shopping locally, or who from our region is sticking to Huronia, instead of traveling to Barrie…..which was a tradition for many travel-happy shoppers for decades. With the new major stores being planned for Orillia, we can't afford to wait too long, before either asking if we can join their municipality…..or otherwise figuring out how we out-muster the best of the best in retail opportunities, only about forty minutes south. I wouldn't kid you…..I have always liked Orillia, and we antique hunt there three or four times a month. We have to do this, in the antique and collectible trade. But all our other shopping, including for groceries, is done in our hometown. I definitely think Orillia's success over the long haul, has had something to do with Casino Rama's proximity……so I don't think we are barking up the wrong tree, considering a casino for our community.
Let council know what you think. You count. You just may need to rap on their door, to make them appreciate this.
Thanks for joining today's blog. I hope you find the time to visit again soon.
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