Today at Queen’s Park, PC Finance Critic MPP Norm Miller demanded answers from the Minister of Finance about the ongoing series of lottery scandals that Miller referred to as “more sequels than the Harry Potter series.” “How can we have faith when you don’t even know that this happened under your watch and you won’t acknowledge that it happened under your watch,” said Miller.
“There have been inquiries about past OLG board members’ questionable expenses. Numerous problems with scratch-and-win tickets and malfunctioning slot machines have come to light. Let us not forget the Caesars Windsor Casino scandal that cost the taxpayers $81 million. -- MPP Norm Miller, PC Finance Critic
Attached: Ontario Hansard
Contact:
Norm Miller, MPP, Parry Sound – Muskoka
Norm.millerco@pc.ola.org
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.
Mr. Norm Miller: My question is for the Acting Premier. Your lottery scandals have more sequels than the Harry Potter series. The plot of the first OLG scandal involved insider wins, firing the CEO and a promise by the Premier to do better. The plot of the second OLG scandal involved expensive abuses, firing the CEO and a promise to do better. The plot of this latest OLG scandal borrows heavily from OLG one, but the early reviews are that the $12.5-million insider fraud makes it the biggest blockbuster yesterday. Will the movie end with the CEO getting fired and another promise to do better?
Hon. Dwight Duncan: Mr. Speaker, it is difficult for me to comment on a criminal matter that is before the courts, but I will remind the member that this occurred when his party was in power. I will also remind the member—
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Order, The member from Peterborough, the member from Renfrew.
Interjection.
The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The member from Nepean will withdraw the comment.
Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Withdrawn.
The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Minister.
Hon. Dwight Duncan: The Ombudsman also addressed this case in his very good report that was presented to this House and that we acted on. So I believe we have taken appropriate steps. I have great confidence in Paul Godfrey, who is now the chair of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.
Unfortunately, these things happen. They happen—
The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?
Mr. Norm Miller: How can we have faith when you don’t even know that this happened under your watch and you won’t acknowledge that it happened under your watch?
The McGuinty Liberals are expanding in Poker Lotto and online gaming, but the news of a $12.5 million-fraud shows they aren’t able to manage dealing with live people.
The OLG investigated the ticket for an insider win and handed out the $12.5 million before the OLG stepped in.
L050-1110-30 follows
(Hon. Dwight Duncan)
We have recently appointed an entirely new board and given it a very clear mandate. I do want to remind the party opposite about what André Marin said on September 14, 2009 with respect to the steps we took on this particular issue. He said, ??“We are rejoicing that the province has taken this position.”
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Unfortunately, these situations are challenging. This was a particularly bad episode at OLG. We will continue to work with Mr. Godfrey and the new board as we move to find a new CEO and as we move to give Ontarians still greater confidence in that corporation and ??in the future of the revenues that come from that corporation.
