RE: GAMBLING AND BILL 75

The Canadian Christian Business Federation today made a three-page submission on Bill 75 (Video Lotteries Gambling) to the Harris Government, and the Standing Committee on the Administration of Justice. The CCBF reiterated its opposition to gambling, in whatever form. It urged te government to stop diverting monies from normal economic marketplace activities, and refocus its task as that of enabling, i.e., create the climate for healthy economic activity.

Gambling, in whatever form, holds the elusive promise of something better almost within reach. VLT gambling, in contrast to lottery tickets, gives instant results. While at a VLT, the player can immediately continue the pursuit of the elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. This is what makes this type of gambling the worst. The instant gratification, the ability to cash in the voucher and continue playing only facilitates addiction.

The CCBF urges the Minister, the Cabinet and the House not to proceed on this track. You are exploiting society’s most vulnerable, while nurturing the perception that money can be acquired by means other than honest work. This demeans work as the way to make a living, and the responsibility to provide for one’s needs and the needs of one’s family, and community. Because money can be gotten as easy as making the right microchip connection at the right time, it is only a short step to obtaining money by fraud, theft, or other dishonest means.

Every dollar spent on gambling, whether VLT or otherwise, is a dollar diverted away from local retail businesses. Small businesses who are the primary economic engines, the primary jobs creators. Every dollar going to gambling, does not buy any product, does not create any employment. All that dollar does is give ten cents to the bar, where the VLT is located, and ten cents to a charity. The balance, eighty cents, goes directly to government. This diversion of precious dollars away from normal economic activity is, aside from the CCBF’s principal opposition to gambling, our organization’s primary reason for making this submission.

Government’s task is to enable, i.e., create the climate for, healthy economic activity. Government should take responsibility for the long term, for society’s well being and overall health. This government has done such a commendable job in reducing the deficit and tackling the debt. How can you be so two tracked, having fiscal vision yet lacking social responsibility, as shown by your position on gambling and now this legislation?

We plead with you not to continue on this path of Gambling and VLTs. Their use will eventually lead to the same horror stories we now hear from Atlantic City, Louisiana and Mississippi. Is this really what we want Ontario to become?

Please lead with vision.