Time to rally around local OLG employees, says Sheehan

If the Ontario Lottery and Gaming headquarters is going to leave Sault Ste. Marie, it won’t happen without a fight.

At Monday’s city council meeting, a two-page letter from Greg Punch, president and chair of the board of the Economic Development Corporation, was presented and discussed.

It will be sent to Premier Dalton McGuinty and supports the letter Mayor Debbie Amaroso penned last week.

Amaroso and Punch both argued a departure of the OLG would be far worse for the Sault in comparison to a reduction or closing of the Toronto headquarters.

“OLG has ‘anchored’ our community for the last 20 years in many ways,” wrote Amaroso. “This corporation has been an excellent corporate citizen, very much involved in every way in community events. It provides many excellent job opportunities for our young (and even not so young) people.”

“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.,” added Punch.

OLG offices were relocated to the Sault in 1989 after former Liberal Premier David Peterson announced they would be moving in an effort to help boost the Northern Ontario economy.

In 1992, the province built Roberta Bondar Place to house the headquarters; along with various other provincial ministries like Service Ontario.

They currently employ around 600 people and Punch believes there is a strong business case for keeping those people at work.

"Commercial real estate, housing, and the quality-of-life here are second to none and, frankly, a lot less expensive,” wrote Punch. “We have the telecommunication and transportation infrastructure as well as commercial and business services necessary to support your Corporation.”

He added the EDC is considering undertaking an assessment regarding the impact of the potential departure of the OLG headquarters.

In his letter, Punch said former TD Bank economist Don Drummond’s report has already had a direct negative economic impact on the community.

Ward 2 Councillor Terry Sheehan urged locals to follow Punch’s lead and rally around local OLG employees.

"We need to get people on the phones and sending emails. The Sault is the true and only headquarters," said Sheehan.

"Looking at the grotto debate and the phone calls, letters and emails that came with it, I can only hope the community can turn the page towards this issue and bring that type of reaction.”