EDC writes to McGuinty. Says Sault is the only OLG headquarters location

SooToday.com received a letter sent yesterday by the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation to Premier Dalton McGuinty regarding the Drummond report recommendation on closing one of the OLG offices.

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Hon. Dalton McGuinty
Minister - MINISTER'S OFFICE
Legislative Building, Room 223
Queen’s Park Cres.
Toronto, ON M7A 1A2

February 21, 2012

Dear Premier McGuinty,

I write to you today on behalf of the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation in support of the remarks and sentiments expressed by Her Worship Debbie Amaroso, Mayor of Sault Ste. Marie, in a letter sent to you on February 16, 2012.

We appreciate the recommendations presented in the Drummond report.

We also support the report’s recommendation that there only be one headquarters for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).

Sault Ste. Marie is the only location.

As noted in the mayor's letter, the loss or reduction in workforce by OLG in Sault Ste. Marie would have an economic impact far greater than the impact felt by a similar loss or reduction in the G.T.A.

I draw your attention to the attached editorial, which appeared in the Sault Star on Friday, February 17, 2012.

This editorial reflects the thoughts and sentiments of the community.

In fact, the Drummond report’s suggestion that the OLG headquarters may no longer be in Sault Ste. Marie has already had a direct negative economic impact on the community.

In 1986, the then Liberal premier announced that the Ontario Lottery Corporation (OLC) headquarters would be moved to Sault Ste. Marie as part of the Northern Ontario Relocation Program.

Since then, the Corporation and its staff have become part of the community fabric.

In 1992, the province constructed Roberta Bondar Place to house the Corporation, along with various provincial ministries.

These organizations and its people are positive economic anchors for this city.

We believe there is a strong business case for OLG to consolidate its operations, relocate and recruit staff to Sault Ste. Marie.

Commercial real estate, housing, and the quality-of-life here are second to none and, frankly, a lot less expensive.

We have the telecommunication and transportation infrastructure as well as commercial and business services necessary to support your Corporation.

This was proven in the first few years of the Corporation’s operations in the Sault, prior to senior management deciding to relocate to Toronto.

There are no impediments to OLG having a full service headquarters here.

That was determined in 1986.

Therefore, we will be contacting the principles involved to discuss how we could work with them to consolidate the OLG’s head office operations in Sault Ste. Marie.

Please note that in light of the Drummond report recommendations, we are considering undertaking an assessment of both the impact and opportunity of this specific recommendation on the community.

We would be pleased to discuss the matter further with OLG representatives and ministries within your government.

Sincerely,

D. Gregory Punch
President and Chairman of the Board

Cc: attached

Cc: The Hon. Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance, Chair of Treasury

Board and Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet

The Hon. Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Northern Development and Mines

Mayor Debbie Amaroso, Mayor, Sault Ste. Marie

David Orazietti, MPP, Sault Ste. Marie

Bryan Hayes, MP, Sault Ste. Marie

Paul Godfrey, Chair, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation

Rod Phillips, OLG President and Chief Executive Officer

Steve Orsini, Deputy Minister of Finance and Secretary of Treasury Board

Scott Thompson, Executive Lead and Assistant Deputy Minister-Secretariat to Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services

Rob Reid, President, Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce

Joe Fratesi, CAO, City of Sault Ste. Marie

Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors

Tom Dodds, CEO, Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation

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