A games room project that is not unanimously supported in Rimouski

In July, the City of Rimouski unanimously adopted two zoning modification regulations to facilitate the installation of a games room. No one has requested a referendum on the zoning change.

In a city center hotel

The Rimouski gaming hall would be the third to be built in Quebec, after those in Trois-Rivières and Quebec. Its location is planned on land adjacent to the Hôtel Rimouski or within the establishment itself, which would represent a precedent for Loto-Québec.

It would also be the only gaming hall to be located in a city center. Moreover, the City of Rimouski believes that it will revitalize the sector and become a tourist attraction. The state corporation estimates the annual economic impact on tourism at $1.5 million. It also predicts that the gaming hall would create 130 direct and indirect jobs.

What some citizens think

The Sun carried out a little unscientific survey of certain citizens of Rimouski. Annemarie Bourassa asked a lot of questions about the project. “It stung me to the quick,” exclaims the Rimouskoise. Apart from all the health and acceptability issues, a project like this to revitalize the city center and attract tourists, I find that it does not work. The City is really missing the boat. For me, a city the size of Rimouski that wants to revitalize its downtown area is missing a great opportunity to do something different to stand out!”

The lady who worked in the tourism sector for 40 years does not believe that a games room will be able to attract tourists by “stacking them near the river” to make them play on machines. “For me, gambling is something harmful. I don’t see how a city can encourage this, especially since Montreal backed away from such a project because of negative opinions. It’s opening the door to something that, for me, has no benefit and can create dependencies. Who wins in this? Pretty much just Loto-Québec.”

Ms. Bourassa also deplores that the presentation of the project and the adoption of the resolutions of the City of Rimouski took place during the summer, at a time when people are on vacation or are less informed. “I feel like we haven’t heard that much about it. It’s as if someone had given us a quick one!”

When Pierre Cadieux, another citizen of Rimouski, heard about the project, he immediately had the instinct to find out what a games room consisted of. “I understood that it was a facility with several types of gambling machines, where people aged 18 and over had access. My first reaction is that I find that it is very close to a residential area where the people who live there are not very comfortable. These are people with low incomes.”

Therefore, he fears that this place could attract people who have difficulty managing their budget properly. “They bet in the hope that one day, luck will smile on them. The only one who wins is Loto-Québec.” He also fears that frequenting the place could create other problems among players, such as increased alcohol consumption.

If the former professor of project management and law for 42 years at the University of Quebec at Rimouski admits to not liking this type of place, he still qualifies his remarks by hoping that the place will target more conference attendees and tourists who can afford to spend money on these machines without there being disastrous consequences on their quality of life. He is also reassured to learn that the game will be supervised.

Whatever the case, the fact remains that Mr. Cadieux is not in favor of this type of project and does not hesitate to express his reluctance. “I’m a little afraid of that. I’m not sure this is a good idea. It bothers me.”

Julien Fecteau Robertson does not have a particularly strong opinion on the project, in particular because he says he does not have the necessary information to formulate one. The citizen of Rimouski wrote his master’s thesis on the question of state paternalism and weakness of will, in which he, among other things, addressed public policies to combat compulsive gambling.

Concerning the phenomenon of games of chance in general and not specifically the Rimouski gaming parlor, he concludes that “the government generally plays a dangerous game by pretending to fight against a serious social problem which also serves as a source of revenue.”

The favorable Chamber of Commerce

The Rimouski-Neigette Chamber of Commerce and Industry does not hide its approval of the project. Contrary to certain unfavorable points of view, the organization sees it as an important tourist asset which will enhance the offer and competitiveness of Rimouski on the international, provincial and national scene in terms of conferences.

As this offer is more focused on tourism and conference clientele, it was obvious, according to the general director of the Chamber, that the games room be installed near or inside the Hôtel Rimouski, which is also a conference center.

“In a gaming hall, there is something other than slot machines, even if that is the main offering,” points out Jean-Nicolas Marchand. There are going to be events, like shows.”

To all those who are concerned about the risks to public health, the spokesperson for the Chamber tells them that, in these lounges, gaming is the safest. “It is supervised and controlled,” he confirms. Mr. Marchand also met the corporate vice-president of Loto-Québec on the sidelines of his visit to Rimouski at the beginning of the summer, when he came to present the project during a meeting of the municipal council of the ‘place.

Benoit Lefrançois assured him that support programs are offered for clients who may present a certain vulnerability, such as people experiencing poverty. “Public health fears are legitimate, but Loto-Québec ensures that the game is marked out, regulated, supervised,” underlines Mr. Marchand.