Maitson's changed his mind, wants a new vote on VLTs

A councillor's change of heart has increased the odds of the VLT issue going to a plebiscite -- even if the current petition fails.

Coun. Brent Maitson says he'll make a motion at Tuesday's council meeting to include a VLT question on the October election ballot.

Maitson was among the councillors who defeated the plebiscite plan in a six-to-five vote April 21.

If the other councillors vote as they did in April, Maitson's switch means Edmontonians will get to say if they want to ban the gambling machines.

"It's not so much that I made a mistake before but you have to be able to adjust to the new realities of life," the Ward 5 councillor said in an interview Saturday. "We have to be flexible and open to new information."

Maitson said he changed his mind after seeing overwhelming public support for the petition.

He said he also didn't realize previously that the city would have to pay $150,000 to verify the petition being collected by Vote On Terminals-Edmonton, or VOTE.

"It's a democratic issue and an issue of fiscal frugalness," he said. "We don't have money to waste anywhere. The city is in dire straits."

Coun. Michael Phair said even if council approves the VLT question, it probably won't save the city money.

Phair said the petition will probably still move forward and, for legal reasons, the city will have to pay the $150,000 to validate it.

"I suppose it's better late than not at all," said Phair, one of five who voted to put VLTs on the ballot back in April. "But with the petition's close a week away, in some ways it makes a sham of all the time and energy that literally thousands of people have put into it."

The VOTE group said it will stay its course because there is no guarantee council will approve the issue before the petition's June 28 deadline.

Some members are disheartened that Maitson's reversal has come so late.

"Mr. Maitson had the opportunity to express himself in April," said Garry Rohr, spokesperson for VOTE. "If there's been a change of heart, that's nice; but it sure would've made things a whole lot easier if he'd made up his mind earlier."

Rohr said Maitson's decision is an interesting development, but with the deadline a week away his group is continuing full steam ahead.

So far, none of the other five councillors who voted against the VLT question have switched sides.

"I'm going to have to wait and see," said Coun. Leroy Chahley. "I wouldn't want to react until I see he's really making the motion."

City council meets next on Tuesday.

Rohr said VOTE will have commissioners of oaths at six sites around the city to accept petitions starting Wednesday.

He said the commissioners are necessary so volunteers can legally affirm they witnessed the signatures they've gathered.

The group announced last week it had collected 42,500 signatures, two-thirds of the amount it needs to force a plebiscite during October's civic election. *

THE APRIL VOTE

For VLT question: Mayor Bill Smith, Councillors Michael Phair, Allan Bolstad, Brian Mason, Robert Noce

Against it: Councillors Brent Maitson, Wendy Kinsella, Jim Taylor, Larry Langley, Leroy Chahley, Rose Rosenberger

Abstained: Coun. Terry Cavanagh