DRAWING SENT TO ME BY A READER!!!!
Daily Gleaner | Editorials
As published on page C9 on July 2, 2005
Don't expect big changes to VLTs
It's our view: Minister Volpe not giving indication of change
When you consider the horrific tales told by those families that have had a son, daughter, brother or sister who have been negatively affected by gambling on VLTs, your heart goes out to them.
It's not an easy addiction to kick.
Governments know that as well. They are essentially addicted to the revenues generated by the machines and will not let go of them easily.
In 2003-04, total Atlantic Lottery Corporation sales in New Brunswick were $298.8 million, and 45.5 per cent of that came from the 2,800 VLTs in the province.
So the problem facing all politicians is simple: how do you replace the lost revenue if VLTs are taken out of the province completely or scaled back?
Finance Minister Jeannot Volpe is dealing with just such a question right now.
This past week, he said he is not feeling any pressure from groups opposed to VLTs, but did hint that he would consider public hearings into the machines, and that there would be some sort of review.
"Maybe we say we will maintain what we've got," he said. "Maybe we will say that there are a few areas where we can improve."
That's a very non-committal answer about the issue.
Volpe pointed out that New Brunswick has among the lowest rates of gambling addiction in the country and one of the lowest number of VLTs per capita in Canada.
We wonder if the minister is trying to send a message with that statement.
NDP Leader Elizabeth Weir, a vocal critic of VLTs, said she was pleased that public input would be considered.
"I am encouraged by that but what I also want to hear is that they are going to make some clear movement on the whole question of the access to VLTs," she said.
We suspect, however, that there will not be a clear movement on the government's part in the near future. There may be some slight tampering with the numbers of machines and perhaps with the amount of access time to them, but don't expect wholesale changes.
And keep in mind that eventually the government will point to the May 2001 referendum when 53 per cent of those who voted wanted to keep VLTs in the province.
That's been the biggest public input into VLTs in New Brunswick and one that many people will point to when considering the issue.
2 comments:
SORRY OPPONENTS OF VLTS GOVERNMENT NEEDS MONEY.
"A fee is not a tax,” Alward. A story in Gleaner.
So many ways to screw the public and Lord government is becoming an expert. Yet it continues to kiss the ass of the rich by forgiving property tax of $5 million a year for 25 years. Good deal, eh!
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Gleaner story:
Farmers hit with 5,000% fee increase
Province jacks cost for five-year compost licences from $50 to $2,500
New Brunswick Agriculture Minister David Alward told reporters he isn't embarrassed to be giving the Irvings a big property tax break while jacking up fees for farmers.
"A fee is not a tax," he said during question period.
For those of you that have forgotten that Mr.MacIntyre did indeed talk about vlts.
Lest we forget.
Mr. MacIntyre:
I want to tell you something.
I will get serious for a moment, because I can be serious, too.
I want to tell you about the young man who was out in front of the Legislature this morning with a sign.
I talked to him today, He has made a point,
but I want to make a point to this government.
The Minister of Health and Wellness said yesterday that there were only 400 people addicted and that we had looked after them all.
This is the new burning issue, for all governments across Canada.
This is a very serious matter. People are losing their homes. They are losing their families. They are losing everything. We cannot say that because 400 people showed up . . . Most people do not admit their addictions.
This is a very serious issue, and I think we have watered it down too much. We should have taken it more seriously.
I asked that man to go home because I was worried about his health. He was on a hunger strike.
If you gave us solutions . . .
(Interjections.)
Mr. Speaker: Order.
Mr. MacIntyre:
I am sorry, Mr. Speaker, but she is pointing her finger at me. What can I do?
Mr. Speaker:
Again, you are off the topic.
Mr. MacIntyre:
I will get to it. I want to speak to the minister on this issue, because I really think we ought to do something about this. I think that this is just scratching the surface, and I really believe that, across Canada, this will continue to be a big issue in families like this. How could this man ever afford to pay for any child to go to university? The whole family is disrupted by VLT gambling.
Do you know what they are starting to do now? In Nova Scotia, the report says that now they are targeting adolescents with these pieces of equipment. In Ontario, they are targeting an ethnic group. It is terrible, so we need to have a look at that.
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