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OLG

Wednesday September 30, 2020

October 7, 2020 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday September 30, 2020

It’s time to consider shutting down casinos, theatres and malls, leading health expert says

As COVID-19 cases continue to pile up, a leading health expert says the Ontario government should consider shutting down casinos, movie theatres and shopping malls. Industry defenders, meanwhile, say closures would be unnecessary and unfair.

July 17, 2020

“Closing them completely should be a last resort. But I think we need to consider everything right now. How surgical can we afford to be?” said Dr. Abdu Sharkawy, an infectious disease specialist with the University Health Network.

Tuesday, Ontario had 554 new COVID-19 cases, down from a record-setting 700 the day before. But Sharkawy warns we haven’t come close to the peak of the second wave.

“I have no doubt that we’ll be seeing a thousand cases per day within the next two to three weeks,” said Sharkawy, who was surprised to see some Ontario casinos reopen on Monday for the first time since March. Casinos had been allowed to open since the province hit Stage 3 in mid-July, but casino operators had been negotiating unsuccessfully with the province to boost a 50-customer cap.

June 17, 2020

Those casinos are all managed by Great Canadian Gaming Co., which runs 11 casinos in Ontario, including at Woodbine and Mohawk.

Shutting casinos down wouldn’t be fair to the industry’s 17,000 workers in Ontario, said Paul Burns, president and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, the casino industry’s national trade association.

A spokesperson for the provincial ministry of health said the government is still monitoring the COVID situation across Ontario, and could implement further restrictions.

“The government, in consultation with public health experts, continues to review trends from a range of criteria on an ongoing basis to determine if public health measures need to be adjusted or tightened,” said Anna Miller. 

Allowing just 50 customers into a casino that’s designed for thousands isn’t a money-maker, said Burns. Not that it’s being done for charitable purposes, he admitted.

“They wanted to demonstrate to public health officials that they could open and operate in a safe manner. It’s not economically viable at 50 people,” said Burns. Eventually, Burns said the casino industry would like to see more gamblers coming through the doors. (The Hamilton Spectator) 

 

 

Posted in: Ontario Tagged: 2020-32, casino, Coronavirus, covid-19, Doug Ford, Gambling, OLG, Ontario, pandemic, reopening, seniors

Friday, June 6, 2014

June 6, 2014 by Graeme MacKay

Saturday, June 7, 2014What Are Your Top Reasons For Voting?

ADD YOUR LIST IN THE COMMENT BOX BELOW

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday, June 7, 2014

Saturday June 7, 2014Can’t stand any of them? Are you in a non-swing riding where you know marking an x won’t really mean anything? You can DECLINE YOUR VOTE.

The 41st Ontario general election will be held on June 12, 2014. It was ordered to take place by Lieutenant Governor David Onley on May 2, 2014. The decision came upon the recommendation of Premier Kathleen Wynne after Ontario New Democratic Party leader Andrea Horwath announced that the NDP, whose support was critical to the survival of the Ontario Liberal Party’s minority government in the 40th Legislative Assembly of Ontario, would vote against the Liberals’ proposed budget. (Source)

10 best reasons to vote this election

 1. Pick your billion-dollar transportation plan

 The Liberals will pay for rapid transit in Hamilton, but won’t utter the letters L-R-T. The New Democrats will fund light rail, but won’t say how. And the Tories, well, they’ll scrap it all in favour of a contentious mid-peninsula highway past the airport.

 2. Class size conundrum

 The Progressive Conservatives plan to increase class sizes for children of all ages, while at the same time cutting teachers and school staff. The consequence is more concentrated classrooms, which could be challenging for your kids. But the party will bring back the old math curriculum so your kids aren’t so dependant on calculators.

 3. Affordable housing

 More than 5,000 people are waiting for affordable housing in Hamilton, and the Liberals are the only ones with a platform to fix it. But the party’s commitments still fall desperately short of the need for more funding, housing stock and capital repairs.

 4. Crumbling roads and bridges

 The city has a $2-billion backlog on needed repairs to bridges, roads and other infrastructure and all it takes is a quick drive down Burlington Street to prove it. The Grits and the New Democrats have both pledged $29 billion to transportation over the next decade, but it’s not clear how much of that could end up on our city streets.

 5. Pension promises

 The centrepiece of the Liberal election platform is the creation of a provincial pension plan that would double the retirement income of recipients — a potential boon for the more than 3 million Ontario workers who haven’t saved enough. Is it the perfect solution or, as Ontario Tory Leader Tim Hudak put it, a “job-killing payroll tax”?

 6. Scandals

 From cancelled gas plants to a massive research bailout, Kathleen Wynne and her Liberals have been plagued by scandals on the campaign trail — and her political foes warn it’s not the end of it. This is your chance to hold the Grits accountable.

 7. 100,000 pink slips

Hudak says he’ll cut 100,000 public sector jobs and then create a million more jobs. His math has been widely criticized. Do you believe in a job-creation tax credit or a jobs and prosperity fund? On Thursday, you can choose your preferred plan — but you might want to brush up on your arithmetic before you cast your vote.

8. Think of those in need

 The Liberals and New Democrats promise to tackle poverty through initiatives such as student nutrition programs, child health and dental benefits, and higher wages for the lowest earners. The PCs also support boosting the minimum wage. These steps would benefit Hamiltonians — one in five of whom live below the poverty line — but they still fall short of a “living wage.”

9. School closures

 The Grits have offered incentives to close half-empty schools, while the New Democrats promise cash to keep them open. The Green party? It’ll create a single school system in Ontario, saving more than $1 billion a year — and, potentially, your neighbourhood school.

10. Democracy

 It’s been 70 years since D-Day when more than 350 Canadian soldiers died fighting for our freedom and democratic rights. Honour their ultimate sacrifice by getting to the polls. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

CBC Ontario Votes

CTV Election 2014

Spec Votes 2014

SOCIAL MEDIA

This cartoon appeared on National Newswatch, and Yahoo Canada News.

Posted in: Ontario Tagged: Andrea Horwath, auto insurance, Corporate tax rates, Dalton McGuinty, debt, Downloading, education, eHealth, electricity, Gas Plant Scandal, Gax Tax, health, hydro, Illustration, Kathleen Wynne, leadership, Mike Harris, Minimum wage, OLG, Ontario, Ontario Election 2014, Ornge, pension, Public Service, research, Social services, Tim Hudak, Transit, Tuition, University, wages

Thursday, February 7, 2013

February 7, 2013 by Graeme MacKay

Thursday, February 7, 2013By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday, February 7, 2013

Councillors hear pitch from RockHammer

In the face of a $200-million proposal for a flashy downtown casino, several councillors are keeping their sights set squarely on a gaming facility in Flamborough.

PJ Mercanti, McMaster University professor Nick Bontis, and Hess Village business owner Dean Collett brought their proposal for a Hard Rock casino and entertainment complex to Hamilton City Hall Wednesday. Although it’s rumoured there are several parties interested in bidding on a Hamilton casino, Mercanti’s company, RockHammer Inc, is the first to officially make a pitch to council.

Despite garnering praise for laying their cards on the table, RockHammer’s proposal prompted mixed reactions from council.

Several councillors’ questions focused on whether the Hard Rock proposal could be tailored to Flamborough instead of downtown. And despite warnings that RockHammer would likely have to scale back plans for a 280-room hotel and entertainment complex if it were located in Flamborough, another councillor — Bernie Morelli — joined several of his colleagues in stating his opposition to any casino development in the city core.

So far, that means six councillors — Morelli, Brian McHattie, Jason Farr, Sam Merulla, Rob Pasuta and Judi Partridge — are firmly opposed to a downtown casino. Although some councillors have implied their support for a downtown casino, no councillor has explicitly backed that idea. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Posted in: Hamilton Tagged: casino, city hall, Editorial Cartoon, Gambling, Hamilton, OLG, rock hammer

Thursday October 11, 2012

October 11, 2012 by Graeme MacKay

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) 

 

Posted in: Ontario Tagged: alcohol, Brantford, casino, Gambling, Gaming, Hamilton, Lottery, niagara, OLG, Ontario, Paul Godfrey, windsor

Saturday September 22, 2012

September 22, 2012 by Graeme MacKay

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) 

 

Posted in: Ontario Tagged: alien, casino, decision, Gambling, Gaming, Hamilton, invasion, Lottery, mothership, OLG, Ontario, spaceship
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This website contains satirical commentaries of current events going back several decades. Some readers may not share this sense of humour nor the opinions expressed by the artist. To understand editorial cartoons it is important to understand their effectiveness as a counterweight to power. It is presumed readers approach satire with a broad minded foundation and healthy knowledge of objective facts of the subjects depicted.

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