According to a report, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has said that it will be up to the residents of municipalities to decide whether expanded casino gaming is to be introduced within their jurisdictions
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An article on CBC.ca has explained that the Ontario Liberal Government will give residents of jurisdictions the opportunity to vote on the topic of new gaming establishments via referendum.
The report also stated that Premier McGuinty was called on his flip-flopping on the expanded gaming issue. Before assuming Ontario's captain's chair, McGuinty had reportedly promised that he would not expand gaming under his watch.
The article has cited him as saying that he has changed his mind, and that he is looking to maximize returns for the province of Ontario.
Just last week, the McGuinty Government gave the green light to a publicly-panned and highly controversial strategy which will see the province step away from the slots-at-racetracks program, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.'s most lucrative venture since the late 1990s.
The slots-at-racetracks program ultimately employs 60,000 Ontarians related to the provincial horse-racing industry; results in $2-billion in annual economic impact; and annually sees $1.1-billion flow directly to government coffers with minimal overhead assumed by the province of Ontario. In addition, the Ontario horse-racing industry also pays the Ontario Government $261-million in direct taxes every year.
For Trot Insider's complete coverage regarding the fallout and uproar in response to the OLG and Ontario Liberals' treatment of the provincial horse-racing industry, click here.
Liberals seek to and do
Liberals seek to and do control the media. A typical approach, when confronted by a contrary view, is to appear to back down, appear to understand the opposition view,and seek to reduce opposition rhetoric, while at the same time pushing forward with its own agenda. Often this approach works.
It's vital that the Canadian and North American horse industry, in total, present a unified approach, continue presenting facts and continue efforts to inform the "general population" of the positive economic impact of the "partnership" between the equine industry and gaming. The racino issue and the equine industry are too important for us to lose momentum and become derailed by special interests and internal politics.
Apparently a group of
Apparently a group of horse-people attended a Sudbury city council meeting last night.
They attended in an effort to get city backing and a motion similar to the one passed earlier by Fort Erie. The motion passed and the council directed city staff to contact the other 16 municipal governments affected to demand a meeting with McGuinty ASAP!
Interestingly, the local Liberal MPP had apparently guaranteed them that they would continue to get their 5% rake off the slots, but the council realized they would still take a huge hit because of the job losses to the area, and supported the motion in spite of the 5% guarantee.
Staff are supposedly to report back Friday to see if a meeting has been set up.
I believe trying to get ALL affected Municipalities on board with the cause (lost jobs, payrolls, local expenditures) could be very powerful. Municipal leaders, and their umbrella association (AMO) have tremendous lobbying ability.
If anyone can get the ear of McGuinty, AMO can, but AMO probably needs to be convinced that it is something the municipalities want -- hence the importance of rallying the municipal councils that host racetracks. They need to realize how much the job losses will directly impact the economy of their city/town.
By looking at McGuinty's
By looking at McGuinty's comments today in a few papers, I think he is scared big time over a possible referendum on building a new casino in Toronto. A public poll recently shows it will be a very hard sell.
He was also quoted as saying that referendums are no longer mandatory to create new casinos (that part of the 1999 OLG Act has apparently lapsed).
I don't know how to make them mandatory again, but it would nice to see the opposition parties get together and make it happen.
If Toronto can't get a casino, McGuinty's plan to make more money at the expense of the horse racing industry will be ruined.
Can we have a referendum for
Can we have a referendum for the workers that have lost their jobs at the three slots track operations....... After Mr Duncans speach yesterday shoving down our throats how strong leadership will prevail now were having referendums thats really strong leadership.
Plus he reminded us how much more health care will be provided by backing out of the racetrack/slot agreement.
If the people in these municiplalities vote down slot expansion do we blame them for poor health care. This just gets more bizzare by the day. We can afford tax breaks for companies providing green energy (Samsung)but havent got the capability to take green energy into the present grid system......Please Mr Duncan how many nurses and doctors do the tax breaks equate to in your ludicrous economic plan for the future........
While it is good to see the
While it is good to see the Liberals are haveing a second look at expanded gaming,they should put on hold any changes in the present slots at racetrack program,till the results of the referendums are complete.The horse industry has done an excellent PR job on this issue but we have to keep up the pressure till we have the previous arrangement reinstated
A possible crack in the
A possible crack in the Liberal wall. Public opinion is not on their side on this issue.
Strong chance voters will balk at casinos and expanded slots in their municipalities. If that happens, where does the government put them? -- AT RACETRACKS?.
If the track owners and members of the racing community can stay focused and work together on this issue (hopefully through OHRIA), I believe there is a chance the province could be forced back to the table --- or risk much reduced gambling/slot revenue.
OHRIA's media campaign is starting to take hold. Continued pressure on MPP's can only help.
While the Industry has lost a couple of the early battles, hopefully there is still enough energy and ingenuity to win the war.