If there wasn't enough local demand for a casino, the Province certainly wouldn't be asking Saanich to allow for construction of a casino. They do their homework on these things ... as gambling is a huge profit centre for the Province, and they want to maximize their revenues.
The request was "east" Saanich, which would (in reality) likely be somewhere in the vicinity of the Royal Oak Mall. Uptown would be potentially in the mix ... but would ultimately likely prove to be too close to View Royal.
The Royal Oak Mall area is a buzzing and busy business hub most of the day, and despite residential areas in the vicinity, like many "hubs", it's heavily developed in the middle of that residential area.
The Shelbourne/McKenzie corridor is going through some pretty major development as well, and could equally serve as a vicinity for casino construction.
Pro or con, folks have a right to hold whatever opinion they wish to hold about gambling and casinos, but if they're not in a residential area ... the "residential" argument begins to fade quickly.
My question to the typical Saanich resident living somewhere in Cadboro Bay or Strawberry Vale would be "what do you really care if a casino goes in at Royal Oak"?
I mean you're either against a casino on moral grounds (which would put you against it no matter where it was located), or you're against a casino because you don't want to live near one.
There really is no other reason to "be against" something that will maintain, or reduce your tax burden.
I also get that there are always going to be outright contrarians who don't want what they don't want because they don't want it ... a position that contributes little to the broader discussion, but remains legitimate in its own right.
Edited by Spy Black, 06 May 2021 - 09:24 AM.