Wynne wants OLG review for Waterloo Region
Posted May 8, 2013 12:39:23 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Premier Kathleen Wynne used a stop in Waterloo Wednesday morning as a backdrop for her budget message about providing for youth and skilled job training.
She was greeted with a standing ovation from the 1,800 students gathered for the Skills Canada Ontario Technological Skills Competition at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex.
But not everyone is applauding the minority Liberals’ budget document.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath announced she wants a financial accountability office created, much like the parliamentary budget office in Ontario.
Premier Wynne says, “it’s an interesting idea she’s put forward . . . but I truly believe that we need to have a face-to-face meeting to be able to talk about how we go forward.”
“The budget is not the starting point for a negotiation,” Wynne added.
Wynne claims she’s been trying for three weeks to have a meeting with Horwath, noting the Liberals have worked very hard to put a budget in place that is “even-handed.”
Wynne says they’ve tried to take into account many of the demands the NDP and the Conservatives wanted.
“And that’s why it would have been helpful for me to have [a conversation] with [Horwath] . . . in the run-up to the budget,” she says, so the NDP could see how the Liberals responded to the concerns that were raised.
Wynne also noted the debate surrounding the possibility of a casino in Waterloo Region is very concerning for her.
She says this has brought the issue to her attention about municipalities with two governments that hold jurisdictions.
Of the region’s seven municipalities, only Woolwich has voted in favour of looking into the idea of hosting a casino.
However, many feel it will put a strain on the Region’s resources, and therefore effect everybody.
Wynne says, “I do think this is a problem. You’ve got municipalities with overlapping jurisdictions, and I don’t think there’s enough clarity on who’s decision this should be.”
She says if this situation goes forward, she will ask the OLG to conduct a review.
