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Kingston
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March 14, 2012
www.emconline.ca
Inside News
Kingston Brain Bee Pg. 14
entertainment
Looking for sweet treasure at Maple Madness EMC Events - Maple Madness arrived at the Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area last Saturday, bringing large crowds to enjoy pancakes with maple syrup and to learn about the syrup making process from the earliest days to modern times. Two-year-old Ellie Flunder checks a sap bucket at Maple Madness.
Enchante St. Paddy’s Day Pg. 23
events
Referendum Rejection: City-wide casino vote panned by council By Bill Hutchins Reporter
Cooking with Confidence FA M I LY Pg. 37
EMC News – Good idea. Poor timing. That’s what most councillors said in rejecting calls to hold a mid-term casino referendum in Kingston. “This isn’t the time or the place,” said Coun. Sandy Berg. City council voted 6-5 against a motion that could have sent voters to the polls at an estimated cost of $300,000 to decide the contentious casino issue on a one-question ballot.
PA C K
“This motion is not about the pros and cons of a casino,” Coun. Rob Hutchison asserted. “It’s about respecting the citizens, the voters.” Coun. Hutchison’s push to hold Kingston’s first referendum in 20 years was based on a recent survey, commissioned by Thousand Islands tourism operators, that suggested 78 percent of Kingstonians want a direct say on the issue. About 500 citizens were randomly polled in the February phone survey. He says the casino question can be resolved with a
clear mandate from voters, comparing it to the divisive debate over Kingston’s large venue entertainment centre. “I’d really rather not go through that again. It’s not good for the city.” Coun. Hutchison had to bring more clarity to the wording of his original motion, which was ruled out of order by Mayor Mark Gerretsen, to get it on the March 5 council agenda for a 45 minute debate. The motion’s revised wording stated that a referendum would only be triggered if a private casino proposal comes forward.
Referendum supporters believe holding a city-wide vote would confirm what the majority of Kingstonians have already said during a city-sponsored public meeting and online survey on the casino issue last year. “I believe most people in the city are against it,” added Coun. Rick Downes. “Referendum is a whip to get people who are willfully deaf.” “It’s really critical to put the question to bed,” agreed Coun. Jim Neill. But a slim majority voted down the idea based on sev-
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eral reasons, namely; cost, timing and political accountability. “I was elected to make those decisions by sitting on council and I won’t abdicate my responsibility to a $300,000 or $400,000 referendum,” said Coun. Brian Reitzel. Others indicated they would support a referendum during the next civic election in two years. Coun. Bryan Paterson, who opposed the referendum motion, says municipalities
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