Progressive Conservative Nepean-Carleton MPP Lisa MacLeod's private members motion calling for Ontario's Auditor General to review the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s new gaming plans was passed at Queen's Park on Thursday.
MacLeod's motion was debated in the legislature following a rally on the lawn that included hundreds of horse racing supporters and passed in a vote by members from all parties.
The motion calls for the Auditor General to review the OLG's new gaming plans, including its revenue and expenditure projections, mental health and addictions impact and its effect on Ontario’s horse racing industry. The motion also calls for a referendum to take place in any affected municipality where the OLG is proposing a new casino in order for the community to determine whether it is welcome or not.
“I am thrilled MPPs from all parties supported my call for greater oversight of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporations new gaming and casino plans. Given OLG’s own 2009 Annual Report that said Ontario’s casinos lost a total of $46 million, a radical shift in gaming must be thoroughly vetted to ensure its revenue and expenditure projections are met before it proceeds,” said MacLeod.
According to MacLeod's Twitter account, she has sent a letter to the Auditor General asking that he follow the Assembly's directive immediately.
MacLeod, along with MPPs John Yakabuski (Renfrew–Nippissing–Pembrooke), Paul Miller (Hamilton East–Stoney Creek), Frank Klees (Newmarket–Aurora), and Todd Smith (Prince Edward–Hastings), also tabled petitions on Thursday supporting the future of horse racing in Ontario. The petitions call for the Ontario government to “protect the $1.1 billion of revenue the government received annually because of the OLG slots-at-racetracks program" and "direct OLG to honour the contracts with racetracks and protect the horse racing and breeding industry by continuing the OLG slots-at-racetracks revenue-sharing program.”
To read the transcript of the debate on MacLeod's motion, click here.
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