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Smoking rooms to be allowed at Ontario Casinos??? Isn't that supposed to be illegal??
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| Jayx1 |
I am back from hiatus because i just couldnt resist this one. This situation stinks of hypocrisy. The Ontario government has basically admitted that smoking laws costs money and jobs and has now gone about creating an exemption for it's casinos while still imposing the current law on private businesses. I call on the government to go back to allowing designated smoking rooms and to get off it's high horse of social engineering.
I can't wait until October when we can vote mcguinty and his clown posse out of office.
| quote: | Casino smoke-room flap
By ANTONELLA ARTUSO, QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU CHIEF
A smokers' rights group is criticizing the province for erecting luxurious covered smoking shelters at government-owned casinos while not permitting restaurants and bars to do the same.
Nancy Daigneault of tobacco industry-sponsored Mychoice.ca said the Windsor casino is spending $2.3 million on heated and covered smoking rooms after watching its revenue plummet following the provincial smoking ban.
There appear to be plans afoot to create shelters for other casinos, she said.
Meanwhile, public health officials crack down on restaurants and bars that try to offer their smoking customers a covered smoking patio, Daigneault said.
"It's very hypocritical. They're skirting their own law."
Casino Windsor announced last July it was laying off 329 staff owing to a slowdown for which the provincial smoking ban was partly blamed. Revenue at the casino fell by 33.8% and the takings at a Windsor racetrack fell 19% following the ban.
Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson said yesterday that the legislation permits casinos -- like any office or factory -- to build two-sided, covered smoking shelters. S helters at casinos have only two solid walls, he said.
No employees are obliged to enter the smoking area to serve customers, unlike restaurants and bars where they would be exposed to secondhand smoke, he said.
Watson said the casinos are not subject to the same rules as restaurants and bars because their primary purpose is to provide gambling, not serve food and drink.
"There is no exemption for casinos," he said. "There is no special treatment of a casino."
Tory MPP Tim Hudak said the "loophole" for casinos creates an unfair playing field.
"There is one rule for government-owned casinos and another if you're a private business or a mom and pop restaurant," Hudak said.
"Obviously, Dalton McGuinty's insatiable hunger for government revenues has yet again trumped a promise he made to the people of Ontario." |
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| Cosmic Fur |
| oh jay, I think we actually missed your threads. |
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| Platipus |
i agree, ridiculous..
I wonder how many people will get this sick this winter from having to go outside and smoke in the cold rainy weather. |
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| exstasie |
...they probably lose lots of revenue...you want to keep the gamblers inside the casino! Not force them to leave and go outside and smoke...
You can't smoke and play the slots outside! |
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| Moral Hazard |
| quote: | Originally posted by exstasie
...they probably lose lots of revenue...you want to keep the gamblers inside the casino! Not force them to leave and go outside and smoke...
You can't smoke and play the slots outside! |
That's exactly why they're doing it. Of course it doesn't seem to matter if ma and pa resturant or bar owner lose revenue. |
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| Jayx1 |
| remember how ridiculous mcguinty is when it comes to elections in oct. can we really afford another 4 years of this dingbat? It's bad enough we still have miller... |
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| Djsketchbag |
| quote: | Originally posted by exstasie
...they probably lose lots of revenue...you want to keep the gamblers inside the casino! Not force them to leave and go outside and smoke...
You can't smoke and play the slots outside! |
totaly agree with you there plus it would cause a lot of traffic at the casino ppl goin in and out |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Moral Hazard
That's exactly why they're doing it. Of course it doesn't seem to matter if ma and pa resturant or bar owner lose revenue. |
they dont care... because they make up the tax revenue by levying ridiculous and over zealous fines on those forced to break the law. And in the process they win the middle aged ex smoker women vote. (of which there are many in our province) |
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| exstasie |
| quote: | Originally posted by Djsketchbag
totaly agree with you there plus it would cause a lot of traffic at the casino ppl goin in and out |
It's all about keeping you in the Casino...pretty much as simple as that...the longer one stays in the casino...more revenue the casino earns...
...speaking of Casino's...any goods acts coming to Dragonfly soon? I think there is nothing better then playing poker for 4-5 hours then hitting up the club to listen to some nice Trance/House tunes right afterwards... |
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| Misanthrope |
yup it does suck. The more they take away our freedom, the more they will invade in our privacy.
maybe, they are trying to make up for the money that was given as a Christmas Bonus.
:rolleyes: |
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| patpicos |
thats retarded. No smoking in public places ....period! screw exceptions.
and what about enforcing smoking laws in clubs?? i still tons of pple smoking at guv, docks and any other big clubs |
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| Cosmic Fur |
| quote: | Originally posted by devnull
and what about enforcing smoking laws in clubs?? i still tons of pple smoking at guv, docks and any other big clubs |
Yeah, that pisses me off far more than when people smoke in bars and restaurants, cause at least when they're smoking in bars/restaurants, they're doing it at their table, not right in your face while you're out of breath. |
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