Liberal MPP Blasts Duncan, McGuinty In Legislature Over Gaming

Published: May 31, 2012 04:29 pm EDT

A reported divide within the Ontario Liberal Government manifested itself today in the Provincial Legislature when Liberal MPP Mike Colle (Eglinton-Lawrence) proclaimed that he does not support his party's push for a casino in the City of Toronto

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An article by the Toronto Star has quoted Colle as saying “I don’t want a big casino in Toronto” after the day's legislative session.

In regard to tackling Ontario's mounting deficit, Colle stated that "there’s other ways" to reduce the province's red ink.

He stressed that the other measures are "not easy" and that "there’s no other magic bullet here, and the minister of finance (Dwight Duncan) has reality to face . . . Our caucus is open to examining this whole thing.”

The report has also cited Colle as portraying the Ontario Liberal Government as 'merely planning to open a new casino in the GTA and asking for municipalities’ input.'

(With files from the Toronto Star)

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I don't believe for a minute that Mr. Colle's comments have anything to do with saving racing or respect for rural Ontario. Look at his comments, he speaks only of a Casino in Toronto like there are no other issues involved here. There is no stated concern for racing, jobs or any of the other communities that are going to have expanded gaming rammed down their throats.

I am certain that Mr. Colle's comments were made simply because he has seen the polls that say Torontonians are not in favour of a Casino.

looks like maybe some of these liberals are starting to get the idea they my be looking for a job soon.

Our caucus is open to examining this whole thing...???

Gimme a break!!!

But to Dalton McGuinty... You can still save face and the budget, but it would mean government co-operation with the racing industry, not the selling out of.
Interested?

This is one of Colle's comments and it says everything.

“What’s the hurry?” he told reporters later. “What this is really about from the provincial government is not a casino on Toronto’s waterfront; it’s about how they restructure the revenue stream from gambling.”

Having said all this, we need to stay the course in what we need as there will be video bingo(slots) and internet gaming coming at us shortly. Lets put the table games at the tracks and let's get to re-structuring so peoples lives can settle down and move on.

You can bet there are a lot more in their caucus feeling the same way about this whole OLG re-make. I'm sure Kim Craitor is one. Keep working everyone there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Now if Mr Colle had any ethics or guts at all he would cross the floor.

michael smith
Obviously a lot of Liberals are realizing that their political careers will soon be over.They have treated the rural communities with absolute contempt and now they are doing the same with Toronto. Mr.Colle also stated in the same interview that a referendum
wasn't necessary because people would vote no and that would "handcuff the municipal leaders". Isn't that the way a democratic society works? Just more of the Liberal arrogance we have seen all through this mess.

It appears the present plan to abandon the current slots at the race track program by March 2013 could be extremely costly both financially and politically for the provincial Liberal party.

Hello..... it appears that there are some cracks in the armour from within. Could it be that some members of the Ontario Liberal Party have seen through this maze of insanity in putting 60,000 tax paying people out of work in rural Ontario?? Hopefully some others will come to their senses as well.

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