Majority of Peterborough residents say no to casino - poll

The poll was commissioned by Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation (MSIFN) and conducted by Abacus Data, an Ottawa-based polling firm, from Oct. 24 to 30.

It asked 800 residents in Pickering, Ajax and Peterborough about new and expanded gaming facilities in Ontario. All three cities are in various stages of developing or expanding casinos.

MSIFN ran gaming tables at Great Blue Heron Casino near Port Perry for more than two decades before recently signing an agreement with the provincial government and OLG for OLG to take over the gaming tables.

Having dealt with the OLG for years, MSIFN Chief Kelly LaRocca said they're well versed in its mandate to only implement new or expanded casinos in willing communities.

The poll was a way to assess if the OLG staying true to its word.

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We commissioned the poll to determine if the OLG is living up to its own standards before considering these communities for new casino, said LaRocca

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Judging by the results, the majority of Peterborough voters don't want to see a casino in the city and have concerns about the environmental impact of the new development.

Seventy six per cent of voters agreed there was already enough gaming in the area, while 74 per cent believed a full environmental assessment should be part of the casino planning process.

Meanwhile, 54 per cent were in support of the OMB appeal against the casino development.

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Concerns for the environment also came up regarding the Parkway expansion, with 56 per cent supporting the Ontario government's decision for a full environmental assessment of the city's proposal to build the Parkway extension, even if it means a delay to the development of casino

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Of the 300 people polled, 90 per cent have lived in Peterborough for at least a decade, and 87 per cent voted in the 2014 provincial election.

When asked if Mayor Daryl Bennett deserved to be re-elected or if they thought it was time for a change, 60 per cent stated it was time for a change.

The results of the poll were no surprise to Roy Brady, member of No Casino Peterborough.

He said citizens have been in an "uproar" over the casino since city councillors introduced the idea about three years ago. Yet, they approached OLG anyway.

"We're still bitter about that one," he said.

Brady also agreed with the need for a full environmental assessment in the casino's planning.

"That's one the city has ignored all the way," Brady said.

Fellow No Casino Peterborough member Sheila Nabigon-Howlett thought the poll's results were a reflection of how the majority of the community feels about the new casino - that it's not wanted.

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I think these figures back up our original contention, Nabigon-Howlett said

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Anyone Nabigon-Howlett said she speaks to says they want to see the casino left in Cavan Monaghan.

"That's peoples' opinion and that has not changed," she said.

As for more than half the voters wanting to see a new mayor at the helm, Nabigon-Howlett said that could be because people feel Bennett puts pressure on council to push forward his projects, such as the Parkway, the casino and the sale of Peterborough Distribution Inc.

"It seems that the mayor and the will of the people do nota align, that's for sure," she said.