The union president representing Toronto’s inside city workers is reminding Council today that City workers have said no to a new casino in Toronto.

“Council should listen to the resounding ‘no’ that Toronto residents, community groups and workers have given to the idea of a mega-casino being built in Toronto,” said CUPE Local 79 President Tim Maguire. “Our members provide front-line social services in Toronto communities, and they say the negative impacts of a new casino would overwhelm their already stretched ability to provide Toronto’s social service needs.”

With the Premier quashing hopes of a special casino-hosting fee for Toronto, Maguire also remarked that proposed incentives for a casino could never measure up to the social costs.

“Even if the meager requirements for a new casino from the City Manager’s report were met – which we know is unlikely – we side with the Medical Officer of Health in believing a mega-casino is a bad deal for Toronto,” said Maguire.

CUPE Local 79 performed an internal poll that showed 67% of responding members oppose a casino outright. 81% thought that poverty would be worsened by a casino and 82% thought crime would increase. The union then signed on in support of ‘No Casino Toronto’ – a concerned residents group leading the opposition against the establishment of a casino in Toronto.

“We are urging Councillors and the Mayor to say no to a Casino and refocus their attention on strategies that support healthy communities and a healthy city.”

CUPE Local 79 represents about 20,000 City of Toronto employees working in all City divisions, including public health, city inspectors, homeless hostels, transportation, childcare centres, employment and social services, recreation programs, and long term care homes.