“Once I get there, we need to pick up this conversation. I want communities to be able to make this decision in the way that they want to make it.”

Although she didn't go so far as to back municipal referendums, Liberal leadership candidate Kathleen Wynne stated she would review the OLG modernization strategy if she is named as Ontario's next Premier.

Speaking in Dundas, Ont. on Friday as part of a bus tour between Burlington and Brantford, Wynne said she would consider pressing the pause button on the process.

The OLG has given Hamilton city council until the end of February to decide on the location of a future casino, with many of the councillors supporting Flamboro Downs as the preferred destination and holding a referendum to let the people decide on casino expansion and location. Public input is currently coming in through initiatives such as local town hall meetings.

According to the Hamilton Spectator, Wynne said she would “absolutely” back Hamilton if the decision was made to locate a casino at Flamboro Downs.

“Hamilton made that decision,” said Wynne. “That’s what I’m saying. The OLG would have to live with that.”

The Liberal Leadership Convention takes place January 25, 26, and 27 at Ryerson’s Mattamy Athletic Centre (the old Maple Leaf Gardens) in Toronto, with many of the candidates expressing a desire to reconnect with rural Ontario. A bus trip has been planned for horse racing industry participants wishing to attend the convention.