MacLeod On Concerns Regarding OLG

"Hamilton, Ottawa, Kingston and Toronto seem to all be dealing with a divide and conquer approach from the OLG. With a prorogued parliament, I believe the situation will only worsen."

Last week Nepean-Carleton MPP Lisa MacLeod sent a letter to Ontario's Ombudsman calling on him to undertake an inquiry into the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.'s controversial gaming modernization plan to ensure process transparency and on Friday, Oct. 19 she held a news conference at Rideau Carleton Raceway to officially announce her request.

"Following the debate at Ottawa City Hall and reviewing the media preceding it, it was clear to me that many councillors felt the OLG had not provided them with adequate information," said MacLeod at the press conference. "And it was clear that the public within our community feel that they have not been given enough information as well. And a little bit of reasearch shows that the OLG’s dealings with Ottawa are not isolated. Hamilton, Ottawa, Kingston and Toronto seem to all be dealing with a divide and conquer approach from the OLG. With a prorogued parliament, I believe the situation will only worsen. That’s why I’m please to announce that the Ontario Ombudsman agreed on Monday when he met with me to begin an initial inquiry into providing a level of oversight that has been eliminated by the Liberals during prorogation.

"The Ombudsman has the ability to hold the OLG and the Ontario Liberals to account over this billion dollar casino expansion plan and its impact on mental health and addictions," continued MacLeod. "The Ombudsman could provide oversight on how the OLG deals with potential host communities and those who are losing racetracks. In essence, the Ombudsman may give communities like Ottawa and horsemen like those with the National Capital Harness Horsemen's Association the answers that they’ve been asking for."

Macleod, a supporter of Bill 76 requiring referendums for new casinos in communities who also put forth a Private Members motion calling on the Auditor General to review the OLG's new gaming plans, says she will continue to act on the issue at hand through the officers of parliament and will be travelling the province to meet with constituents over the next three to four months.

“I certainly suspect when we go back to the House there will be a Throne Speech and a Budget and this government will fall and we’ll be into an election,” she stated.

MacLeod was joined by Senator Bob Runciman and city councillors Doug Thompson and Scott Moffatt at the conference.

“Councillors have shown a desire to have it [the raceway] stay open so we need the OLG to listen to its residents – not just here in Ottawa but all across the province – and do what’s right and stand by their desire to have a customer focused business operation and focus on their customers, the customers that want the facility here; customers across Eastern Ontario that want to come and enjoy the slots and enjoy the raceway," commented Moffatt. "I desperately hope they listen to some of the comments I’ve made in the past, and what Senator Runciman has said, and what the Ontario provincial Conservatives have said as well."

(With files from the Ottawa Citizen)