Vancouver City Council |
Motion on Notice
Submitted by Councillor Ladner for the Regular Council meeting of January 18, 2005.
5. Independent Gambling Research Institute
MOVER: Councillor Ladner
SECONDER: Councillor
WHEREAS the rapid growth of legalized gambling in many formats has outstripped our capacity to understand many important public policy issues that are associated with gambling;
AND WHEREAS the City of Vancouver has seen an increase in the size and scope of gambling businesses over the past several years, with more expansions anticipated;
AND WHEREAS staff in Vancouver and other municipalities have limited resources to research gambling impacts in Vancouver and B.C.;
AND WHEREAS the province of Alberta has an independent research institute with an annual budget of $1.5 million;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Vancouver ask the Province of B.C. to set up an independent agency at arms-length from the gambling industry, the provincial government, local governments, charities and other recipients of gambling revenues, to examine such gambling issues as the social and economic impact of lotteries and electronic gambling, the prevention and treatment of problem gambling and other emerging gambling concerns.
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