On Wednesday, March 27, Ontario Progressive Conservative MPP Monte McNaughton called on the Auditor General to investigate the Ontario Liberal Party's decision to terminate the slots-at-racetracks program.
In the Ontario Legislature at Queen's park in Toronto, McNaughton said, “I call on the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals and NDP to finally stand up for rural Ontario and support our motion to have the Auditor General investigate the government’s decision to kill the horse racing industry.”
The full text from McNaughton's release on the matter appears below.
McNaughton, PCs to ask Auditor General to Investigate Slots-at-Racetracks Program Cancellation
The McGuinty-Wynne Liberals’ decision --- supported by the NDP --- to cancel the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s ‘Slots at Racetracks Program’ (SARP) needs to be investigated by the Auditor General, PC MPP Monte McNaughton said today.
“In five days, the provincial partnership that gave the horse-racing industry a portion of slots revenue will end taking the jobs of 60,000 hardworking men and women,” said McNaughton. “The McGuinty-Wynne Liberals decision to cancel SARP further illustrates the urban-rural divide that they have created over the past decade.”
McNaughton added that the Ontario PCs will be asking the Auditor General to investigate whether the province acted appropriately/properly in cancelling the ‘Slots at Racetracks Program’ and whether the effects of the decision on Ontario’s horse racing industry have been properly measured.
“Unlike the NDP, which has tried to play both sides --- supporting the horse racing industry at home, but passing the 2012 Liberal Budget that killed SARP --- the Ontario PCs will stand up for our horse racing industry,” said McNaughton.
Horse racing must be a key component of Ontario’s gaming strategy, McNaughton continued, adding that the government should cancel the OLG’s plan to abandon racetrack slots and build 29 new casinos.
For the past year, the Ontario PC Caucus have been vocal advocates against the OLG’s modernization plan --- introducing a bill in May that would require a referendum prior to a casino being built in a community and a motion in August that required the Auditor General to review the OLG’s proposed plan. Most recently, Tim Hudak and the Ontario PCs outlined their proposal to give racetrack operators an opportunity to buy existing slots operations at fair market value.
“We should be building partnerships with the horse racing industry, not mowing down jobs,” concluded McNaughton.
“I call on the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals and NDP to finally stand up for rural Ontario and support our motion to have the Auditor General investigate the government’s decision to kill the horse racing industry.”
Not the first time this has
Not the first time this has been brought up.
Lisa MacLeod - Aug. 30, 2012
"Ms. Lisa MacLeod: I move that, in the opinion of this House, Ontario’s Auditor General must review the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.’s new gaming plans, including its revenue and expenditure projections, mental health and addictions impact and its effect on Ontario’s horse racing industry, and further that a referendum take place in any affected municipality where the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. is proposing a new casino in order for the community to determine whether it is welcome or not."
MPP Lisa McLeod asked the
MPP Lisa McLeod asked the auditor general to investigate but the government was prorogued and ended that motion. Also the NDP are reported to be in support of the upcoming budget because the liberals have said they will meet the NDP demand to lower insurance rates by 15% mostly for Torontonians and the only place with racing as of Monday is,Toronto, so much for rural Ontario. Everything Wynne has said and done for rural Ontario is only lip service and a photo-op. Time for the horsemen to be heard from to let the people of Toronto know the facts because the liberals,OLG and the media(all controled by Godfrey) will not allow the facts to become public info in Toronto.
My guess would be that
My guess would be that premier Wynne will find a way to stop any investigation into the cancellation of the slots at the race track program. The Liberals do not want any back room plans revealed. Get ready for the Ontario parliament to be prorogued again. Just thinking...... Bruce T. Winning
can't he look into the matter
can't he look into the matter on his own.
PUSH THIS INTO ACTION, make
PUSH THIS INTO ACTION, make it more than just talk
Thanks Monte, again why
Thanks Monte, again why didn't you do this early in 2011? Everyone is grandstanding all of a sudden. Monte knows full well what's going on here and a call for the auditor general is a waste of time. The AG will make recommendations that will be ignored and then Monte can say-well I tried.
This is posturing, just in case the NDP actually vote against the budget-nothing more.
Georg Leber-ICR Racing
In reply to Thanks Monte, again why by Gleber
Agree. As of tomorrow
Agree. As of tomorrow afternoon:
Motions presented to parliment to derail the OLG Casino train and return to a SARP program that will sustain our industry, Conservative 0 NDP 2.
Stop the political sound bites Mr. McNaughton. Be in the house and support Taras Natyshaks motion.
Right On Monte!
Right On Monte!
Why was this not brought up
Why was this not brought up eleven months ago,I ask you why wait until five days left in the sarp.
Go get them Monte.
Go get them Monte.