Horwath: Liberals "Not Allowing For Democratic Process"

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Published: February 4, 2013 09:27 am EST

“We think they’ve absconded from their responsibility in terms of governance and they’ve simply let all of these decisions, which I believe are public policy decisions, to be made by the OLG, which is putting the squeeze on communities and not allowing for democratic process.”

While in Sault Ste. Marie over the past weekend, New Democratic Party leader Andrea Horwath openly and strongly criticized the Liberal Government's Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG) modernization gaming strategy, calling for a stop until communities and municipalities can hold local referendums on the issue.

"I’ve filed my own motion in the Legislature, asking the government to put a hold on this whole process until there’s a much better opportunity for input and dialogue with communities that are being affected, and that they tell the OLG to back off with the pressure tactics that are creating such havoc right now,” Horwath told Soo Today.

The motion, filed prior to the prorogation of parliament by former Premier Dalton McGuinty, allowed for referendums to be held in 2014 and “not change at all” the slots-at-racetracks program “until there was some kind of real, meaningful industry transition plan put in place.”

“That's the very least we should do – is allow municipalities to go to their people to make a huge decision like this,” Horwath told the Sault Star, adding that delaying the vote until 2014 municipal elections will allow "already cash-strapped" municipalities to avoid the cost of a standalone vote.

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