Lottery

Thursday October 11, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Thursday October 11, 2012

Give Hamilton time for casino referendum

Ontario NDP leader and Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Horwath is calling on the provincial government to hit the pause button on its massive modernization of gaming in Hamilton to allow cities to hold referendums.

“It’s time for government to stop talking down to people an open up its ears and listen to people for a change,” Horwath said at a press conference at City Hall Wednesday morning. “It’s time to listen to local voices here in Hamilton and in communities across the province, as well as the voices of the people in the horseracing industry.”

Horwath filed a motion at the Ontario Legislature last week asking the Dalton McGuinty Liberals to postpone the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s modernization “in order to allow those municipalities who wish to undertake a referendum on the issue of being a host site for a casino in a cost-effective way on the municipal ballot.”

The motion has yet to be debated in the house.

“It does give us a great deal of credibility moving forward,” said Councillor Sam Merulla, who hosted Wednesday’s press conference along with Horwath. “I’m just pleased that there’s a possibility still, from a political perspective as a result of Andrea’s leadership, that it can become a reality.”

The massive modernization, announced earlier this year, includes plans for a single casino in the Hamilton/Burlington area. It’s still not clear whether that means Flamboro Downs will stay open – council’s preference – or whether a new facility will be built downtown, on the waterfront, or in another location. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Saturday September 22, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Saturday September 22, 2012

OLG rejects Hamilton’s request to delay casino decision

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation has rejected Hamilton council’s request to put off making a casino decision until it can hold a referendum in the 2014 municipal election.

“We can’t delay. We need to move on,” said OLG spokesman Tony Bitonti.

“We have timelines and we need to meet certain targets.”

Bitonti says OLG representatives took the city’s request to board chair Paul Godfrey and President and CEO Rod Phillips shortly after meeting with city council Wednesday.

They decided they could not postpone a decision for two years because the delay would impact other gaming zones that are undergoing a massive modernization plan.

“We’re not just looking at Hamilton, we’re looking at 28 other gaming zones,” said Bitonti.

Councillor Sam Merulla, who has led the charge for a referendum, is infuriated that OLG dismissed the request in a letter to council the day after hearing it.

“If that’s their only response, it’s the mother of all incompetent responses,” he said.

Bitonti says OLG is sticking to its timelines for sending out RFPs to potential private sector casino operators in fall or early winter.

If Hamilton wants to be involved, he says it needs to say so sooner rather than later.

“We need a clear resolution and (to see) how the public was engaged.” (Source: Hamilton Spectator)