The Moncton Times and Transcript
News, Wednesday, June 29, 2005, p. A3
Provincial News
NBers may be asked for their views on VLTs
Gov't reviews gambling policy as opposition pushes for public input
BY MARY MOSZYNSKI TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF
FREDERICTON - NDP Leader Elizabeth Weir wants New Brunswickers to be given an opportunity to voice their concerns over VLT usage in the province.
Government is reviewing its gambling policy and Weir said those affected by gambling should be able to tell their stories.
"I think there should be an opportunity for those affected by the province's gambling policy to come forward and speak directly to New Brunswickers through a public hearing process," she said yesterday.
Finance Minister Jeannot Volpé said he'll consider Weir's suggestion. The province's review of the gambling policy should be completed by the fall, he added.
"I said it was a good option and what I'm ready to do is bring it to our group when we discuss reviewing our gaming policy in New Brunswick," he said yesterday.
Families who have lost loved ones to VLT addiction met in Nova Scotia Monday to call on government to act quickly and eliminate the gaming machines.
While New Brunswick's politicians decide which direction to take its gaming policy other provinces have already cut back on the number of VLTs in their bars.
Newfoundland announced a plan this spring that would reduce the number of VLTs in the province by 15 per cent over five years.
Quebec is removing more than 2,500 VLTs from neighbourhood bars and putting them into centralized gaming parlours.
Meanwhile, the Ontario government has imposed a moratorium on casino expansion, British Columbia has said it won't put VLTs in bars and lounges, and Alberta has set a goal to reduce the number of locations with VLTs up to 15 per cent.
Manitoba is one of the only provinces that seems to be moving in the other direction, with recent plans to add to its stock of VLTs.
In Nova Scotia, the provincial government has said it plans to reduce the number of VLTs and their hours of operation, but is not considering an outright ban.
Yesterday's news conference in Halifax demands government take action on VLTs, Weir said.
However, Volpé said he isn't feeling any pressure from the other provinces to reduce the number of VLTs in New Brunswick. The minister also said government isn't sold on the idea of introducing racinos.
"We've got one of the lowest addiction rates across the province, we've got the lowest number of machines per capita," he said. "Can we improve? There might be some potential for us to improve and reduce even more that rate of addiction."
(With files from The Canadian Press)
3 comments:
Get a load of this. Below is from editorial in Times and Transcript in today’s issue June 30. Did Bernard Lord write the editorial?
”No need to ban VLTS
We say: Taxpayers have already voted to keep VLTs in N.B.
…
New Brunswickers gave their opinion on video gaming in the May, 2001 referendum, where 53 per cent of voters said VLTs should remain in New Brunswick bars and restaurants. While this is not an overwhelming endorsement, it does indicate that a simple majority of voters see no need to further restrict the deployment of lottery terminals.”
How does that story in any way show the Irving's support VLT's?
If that was the case, every mainway store would have had VLT's when they were allowed in stores.
I bet if you go back through the archives, I bet you will see that every Irving owned paper ran an anti vlt editorial the day of the referendum.
Besides, the Transcript likes to kiss Lord's ass any chance they get.
While it's hard to believe, it seems when it comes to their stores they try to have some higher moral values-ever notice there has never been playboy's or penthouses or other porn mags in the magazine shelfs?
While I personally believe VLT's should be unplugged for good, you can't blame the irving's for them being around.
You are 100% correct about the Irving's store being clean! Hey? I even go to the store around the corner. There's two stores in that area and I don't like the attitude of the other place. The staff at the Irving store are the best! My God? They even give a treat to my dog Chico! Ok...never mind that! Today's newspapers or editorial is a totali different ballgame because J.D. Irving sends out his message via their newspapers. It's Germany all over again!!! We the public are not allowed to write critical letter against the evil Irving newspapers. Yes? I stand by my statement!! The Irvings supports VLT'S!!!!
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