According to Linda Williamson, the director of communications for Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin, the office of the Ombudsman is still in the process of reviewing the numerous complaints regarding the provincial Liberal Party and the announced scrapping of the slots-at-racetracks agreement, although an official investigation into the matter has still yet to be launched.
“What we are doing is reviewing the complaints,” Williamson has been quoted as saying in an article by the Flamborough Review.
The report explains that the undertaking can be a lengthy process, which, according to Williamson, “will take a while, maybe a few weeks…”
Trot Insider assembled a quick website story on July 10 regarding contacting the Ontario Ombudsman in relation to the SAR crisis. Two days later, Marin announced via Twitter that his office was beginning the initial assessment of the multitude of complaints which his office had received.
The Ontario Liberals strong-armed decision --- pushed through to the public via the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. --- has caused a firestorm in the Canadian horse-racing industry, as well as the province's mainstream media. Given the financially-positive economic impact the Province of Ontario receives via the SAR Program, many are questioning the Liberals' decision, which will see in upwards of 60,000 jobs and $2-billion in annual economic impact vanish from Ontario.
The SAR Program annually funnels $1.1-billion in direct revenue to the Ontario Government, and also allows the provincial racing industry to send $261-million in direct tax revenue back to the government every year. If it so desires, that annual total of more than $1.3-billion in revenue can help the Ontario Liberals deal with the education and health-care issues which they have passionately preached about for months upon months now.
“For all the backlash they’ve (the Ontario Liberals have) received --- and they received way more than they ever, ever expected -- they still seem to be heading down in that direction,” the Flamborough Review has quoted horseman Shane Arsenault as saying, in regard to the Ontario Liberals' resolve to terminate the SAR Program despite criticism. “They are adamant about going through with their corrupt plan.”
(With files from the Flamborough Review)
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