Just a quick note directing your attention to a few web polls on the issue of Ottawa having a casino.

The polls, of course, are completely unscientific.

Different questions, but, admittedly, I expected the Sun and CFRA results to be somewhat similar. And the CTV result, although we don’t know how many people voted, is pretty lopsided.

Ottawa Sun asks: Would you like to see a casino in the downtown core?

CTV Ottawa asks: Does the Capital region need another casino?

CFRA asks: Do you support the Ontario government decision to open new downtown casinos in Ottawa, Toronto and other cities?

One thing I’ll add. These polls are, again, completely unscientific and obviously should not be used to make policy decisions. But in my experience, they do get the attention of people who make decisions down here at City Hall.

Invest Ottawa launched today and the organization (formerly known as OCRI) made this choice for a new logo:

The first thing that struck me is the use of the Peace Tower. One of the things Mayor Jim Watson and others have mentioned over the last several weeks is the need to diversify the economy so we aren’t relying so heavily on the federal government as our economic engine.

I fully admit I have no expertise in branding, but I find it interesting we are still using the Parliament Buildings as the visual connection for investing in our city economy. There is no doubt Parliament is probably the most recognizable representation of “Ottawa,” and we will never not be associated with being primarily a government city, but I wonder if this just further reminds us we are economically dependent on the feds, too.

I have no alternative logo to offer. It’s just an observation.

Invest Ottawa provides this explanation:

Invest Ottawa’s new logo features a rising graph icon made from the shapes of two private sector buildings and the Peace Tower, an internationally known Ottawa landmark. A curved overlay of color highlights the growth that the City of Ottawa has experienced and projects positive, dynamic changes for the future.