Marcus Gee, the conservative writer who frequently supports Mayor Ford, has written in the Globe and Mail that Toronto should not accept a casino. His column is headlined “Casinos are for losers, and Toronto is a winner”. In making his case Mr. Gee expands on two themes. He says only a city that is so depressed or so hard up that it cannot pay for its services ought to be seeking a casino. Toronto, he says, is neither. He quotes the planning department assessment that downtown is a vibrant, growing place. In fact, any resident knows this from simple observation. Mr.Gee also remarks on the requirements set out by city manager Joe Pennachetti which stipulated a minimum of $100 million in so-called hosting fees. The city manager, said Gee, all but put his little finger in his mouth like Dr. Evil by making this demand.
