Does the fight over a downtown Toronto casino still brew?  There is no sign of many pro-casino lobbying activities shown by the city’s lobbyist registry going on in May in spite of the fact that the council is set to debate this issue next Tuesday.  The rolled out casino announcements that are part of this continuing debate have also gone ahead of the council vote. 

The council will have to make a decision as to whether to go ahead with the casino idea in the downtown core or at Exhibition Place that is based on a conditions list.  They will also have to shed light onto whether they want to go ahead with the expanding of gaming operations at Woodbine Racetrack.  Councilor Michelle Berardinetti has confirmed that she is against a downtown casino on Wednesday.  She is reported to have said that she won’t give her support to a downtown Toronto casino but that she will take into consideration a limited expansion for the gaming at Woodbine Racetrack.

The Scarborough councilor has reported in an interview that she is concerned with the animal rights at Woodbine but she can’t see how a casino will fit in at downtown Toronto.  Berardinetti has stated that she has not been approached by the forces of the pro-casino committee for months.  A spokesman for the 10,000 Jobs Now campaign, Allan Pace has reported that they are still arguing in favor of a downtown casino and that it is doing great.  He goes on to say that they have quite a few volunteers that go and knock on doors at different wards and that they are not giving up out of importance to them.  The campaign is supporting the casino because it brings good and unionized jobs with it.