AB - “MLA urges gaming review”
MLA urges gaming review
Sat, May 5, 2007
By JEREMY LOOME, Calgary Sun
Before Alberta rolls the dice on any more gaming, politicians should deal in the public, says an Edmonton MLA.
Maurice Tougas, MLA for Edmonton-Meadowlark, has proposed an all-party committee to review all aspects of gambling in Alberta.
As a private member’s bill, Tougas realizes he’s about as likely to draw an inside straight as see the committee proceed.
“But there’s been a lot of discussion of the parties working together more and I guess I’m hoping they’ll start to take that seriously,” he said.
But Tougas’ suggestion yesterday the gaming industry has “never been scrutinized” shocked Alberta Gaming and Liquor spokeswoman Marilyn Carlyle-Helms, who noted the government has completed three major studies on gaming since 1995, including a two-year gaming licence policy review in 2001. Additionally, she noted, public opinion has been regularly surveyed, with some of those results included in annual reports.
