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Rocky Mountain House mayor not surprised by plebiscite’s results

Residents of Rocky Mountain House voted over whelmingly against reversing a 12-year ban on video lottery terminals on Monday.

Town citizens voted to remove VLTs from local bars and lounges in 1997. Monday’s plebiscite was held to determine if town council should ask the province to return the lottery machines to the community, located about 80 kilometres west of Red Deer.

Rocky Mountain House Mayor Jim Bague said 874 people voted against bringing VLTs to the town, while 274 voted in favour of the move.

The outcome of the plebiscite didn’t surprise him, he said.

“It’s the same people talking now as in 1997,” Bague said. “I think it’s important for the public to speak. It’s been 12 years and we’ve now let the public speak again.”

The town’s decision to uphold the ban on VLTs will continue to hurt bars in the community, because customers are going to the next town to play VLTs, said Duffers Pub manager Jim Pogson

“I’m very disappointed … We may have to lay off some girls and cut back shifts. With other businesses, it could be the end of them,” Pogson said.

The controversial plebiscite has largely seen local drinking establishments pitted against churches.

“They definitely have opinions, those in favour or opposed. They’re both figuring that it’s an important issue,” Bague said.

Six bar owners forced the plebiscite by collecting enough names — 10 per cent of the town’s 7,100 residents — on a petition. The bar owners say they are losing money to customers who go to the next town to play VLTs.

In 2009-10, the Alberta Lottery Fund expects to collect $1.5 billion in gaming revenues, including $616 million from VLTs.

The fund supports thousands of charitable, not-for-profit, public and community-based initiatives each year.

Bars reap 15-per-cent commissions from VLTs’ gross profits.

The province caps the number of machines at 6,000 and all of them are in use.