The Christian-Jewish Dialogue of Montreal, a 35-year-old ecumenical group, said on Feb. 23 that it is opposed to the relocation of the Montreal Casino and called upon governments to review the use of gambling as public policy.

“The CJDM is preoccupied by the growing reliance of governments on gambling as a source of public revenues. It recognizes that there are gambling tourists, many of whom are wealthy … but it is the attraction exerted on local citizens … which is a serious social issue,” the group said in a statement.

The Quebec government is proposing that the casino be moved from Ile-Notre-Dame, an island in the St. Lawrence River, to Point St. Charles in southwest Montreal, near working-class neighbourhoods.