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Smoking ban killing business owners say
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| Jayx1 |
Duh! Who knew?
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Ive personally seen a lot less traffic in the entertainment district in Toronto since May 31 myself. I cant imagine what its like for windsor.
Who wants to travel to a place only to be told that you cant do things that you enjoy?
Perhaps this is why tourism in Toronto is hurting? Its at an all time low. Meanwhile American tourism to Europe has never been better despite the high Euro.
| quote: | Smoking ban burns Windsor bingo parlours
Updated Mon. Jun. 26 2006 11:29 PM ET
Canadian Press
WINDSOR, Ont. -- Nearly a month into Ontario's smoking ban, Windsor bingo hall operators say many Michigan customers are staying home.
Business has dropped so much at some bingo parlours that owners are considering layoffs and at least one may close its doors, according to a report Monday in The Detroit News.
"We haven't laid anybody off yet, but we cut our work hours in half,'' said Candice Lagace, a bookkeeper at Paradise Bingo Hall.
"We're all struggling. It looks like layoffs are imminent.''
Bingo parlour operators predicted a drop in customers when Ontario enacted a ban on smoking in all public buildings on May 31.
No specific figures are available on just how many fewer Michigan customers are visiting the bingo halls, but owners contend it's a substantial number.
CBC Bingo Group has experienced a five-per-cent drop in overall business, but as much as 15 per cent at some facilities, said John Fairley, vice-president of marketing.
There have not been any layoffs yet, but Fairley said the company will evaluate the situation at the end of the month.
Windsor's bingo industry employs 400 workers at seven parlours and is worth an estimated $28 million a year.
Nearly half of Windsor's bingo customers are Americans.
Casino Windsor is also feeling the pinch.
"There are fewer people, but it's too early to assess how much of an impact,'' said Teresa Roncon, a spokeswoman for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. in Toronto.
About 80 per cent of Casino Windsor's customers hail from across the border, she said.
Holly Ward, a Casino Windsor spokeswoman, said no workers have been laid off, but the situation will be assessed in a few weeks. |
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| Skipper |
there is no way you can attribute the traffic decrease in the district solely to a smoking ban. come on.
people like to smoke but they like to party way more. there are any number of other factors that could cause fewer people to go partying downtown. |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Skipper
there is no way you can attribute the traffic decrease in the district solely to a smoking ban. come on.
people like to smoke but they like to party way more. there are any number of other factors that could cause fewer people to go partying downtown. |
Since June 1??
come on!
I among other people have seen a very marked difference in a very short time. |
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| j_spot |
| I bet buisness levels are back to where they were before the michigan smoking ban.(in the bingo parlour case) |
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| Misanthrope |
YA RLY.
way to ing finish off whatever tourism we had left in Toronto.
SARS - obviously can't control
Smoking? YES.
Seriously, where are Toronto's priorities?
[not literally] |
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| 4-play |
Have you considered that there are less Amercian tourists due to our stong dollar?
Tourism in Europe maybe at an all time high this year due to the world cup.
Unless bingo is only open to members who smoke, then taking the smoking ban as being the sole factor in loss of revenue can be misleading. |
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| Jayx1 |
But why since June 1?
Why is there such a direct correlation?
Do you really think its a coincidence? |
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| j_spot |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
But why since June 1?
Why is there such a direct correlation?
Do you really think its a coincidence? |
when did our dollar start to gain alot of strength against theirs? Oh right, that was the very start of june.
and june 9 is when WC started.
Besides, What does tourism in Toronto offer? Theater? go to NY. Shopping, oh wait, dollor is strong, stay in US. |
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| ChemEnhanced |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
Since June 1??
come on!
I among other people have seen a very marked difference in a very short time. |
Typically, there are less students in the area come June and there are more people leaving the city to goto cottage country come June. There may be a very small percentage of the drop related to the smoking by-law. |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by j_spot
when did our dollar start to gain alot of strength against theirs? Oh right, that was the very start of june. |
HUH??? June 2003 maybe!!
| quote: | | and june 9 is when WC started. |
shouldnt that be bringing more people out??
| quote: | | Besides, What does tourism in Toronto offer? Theater? go to NY. Shopping, oh wait, dollor is strong, stay in US. |
Used to offer a lot more before the government stepped in with all its silly rules. Smoking just being one of them. |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by ChemEnhanced
Typically, there are less students in the area come June and there are more people leaving the city to goto cottage country come June. There may be a very small percentage of the drop related to the smoking by-law. |
we will see in the fall then! I just find it highly suspect that richmond st was suddenly a lot quieter once the ban came in. Anyone who doesnt think the ban affects business clearly doesnt know business |
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| Misanthrope |
| I wonder what is the percentage of tourists based on their ethnicity coming to Canada. |
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