OLG snubs made-in-Ontario vehicles. Again.
By David Menzies
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation has once again snubbed made-in-Ontario vehicles.
In a recently-launched $5 scratch card game, the OLG is offering five U.S.-manufactured Harley-Davidson Fat Boy motorcycles valued at approximately $20,000 each.
However, the choice of prizes would appear odd given the hot water the OLG found itself in last year regarding foreign-made vehicles. In 2009, OLG casinos ran a contest in which 22 Mercedes-Benz cars were offered. But the decision to go with the imported sedans wasn’t appreciated by many observers.
Ontario’s then-Public Infrastructure Minister, George Smitherman, said that a crown corporation purchasing foreign-made cars at a time when the province’s auto sector was bleeding jobs made for a “huge lapse in judgment… it’s disappointing; it’s disillusioning; it’s wrong on all levels.”
In a rare move of solidarity, the opposition agreed. Tory MPP Ted Chudleigh noted that a provincially-owned crown corporation would do well to shop locally for vehicles at a time when Ontario’s auto and steel workers are losing their jobs by the thousands.
The OLG eventually issued a mea culpa.
“OLG regrets the decision to feature cars in a customer promotion that were not built in Ontario,” the OLG said in a written statement. “Supporting Ontario business is an important part of OLG’s mandate and this promotion should not have included foreign-made vehicles.”
Yet, barely a year later, the OLG is not only sourcing foreign-made vehicles, but it is also paying a royalty fee (somewhere between .6% and 2%) so that it can make use of the Harley-Davidson logo.
OLG spokesman Rui Brum says the Fat Boys were chosen because these vehicles appeal to men “in the main.”
But Tory MPP Norm Miller finds the choice baffling given last year’s controversy.
“We build the Chevy Camaro in Oshawa – I would’ve thought that would be a good prize,” says Miller. “It wouldn’t be that difficult for them to find some made-in-Ontario products that would be appealing.”
Miller is also miffed that the OLG is paying a percentage of every ticket sold to a private licensor.
“We need every dime from this sector,” he says. “It just seems that the government has no oversight over OLG. Their record is just awful. But you’d think [the OLG would be able to do] something as simple as finding Ontario products.”
Posted by: Finn | 2010-03-10 9:18:35 PM
That's hardly an original response from the OLG "OLG regrets the decision.. ".
Perhaps someone in that Ontario government could send ALL THOSE involved in that descision a letter stating " The Ontario government , that represents all its taxpayers , regrets to inform you YOUR services are no longer needed "
Posted by: Elsie | 2010-03-11 1:48:16 PM
This article misses the point. It's not a ticket where you win a car, you win a motorcycle... and with Harley, it's an aspirational brand for many. Without the brand name, and required fees to support it, the ticket wouldn't appeal. Why do you think people buy these tickets... because they dream of winning the product they promote. That's the fun of it.
To my knowledge, there aren't any two-wheeled motorcyles made in Canada - I wouldn't call Bombardier's trike a bike.
Elsie
Posted by: Alarmed!!! | 2010-03-13 2:00:54 PM
Time to boycot OLG
Posted by: Johnny Two-Shoes | 2010-03-17 2:09:57 AM
Hmm... Win a Benz or your neighbors Chevy... Is that really a question? Howdy neighbor, I just won the same car You just bought! Wow, I'll bet he will be so jealous. Whatever.
Posted by: 655 Hemi | 2010-04-27 11:39:43 AM
This is no diffent than the various levels of the Canadian government buying foreign cars over true domestic automobiles. What message does that send to the CDN taxpayers? I'll tell you; "I took your money and gave it to a foreign country, so what!!!."
Or better yet; the media (such as yourselves) constantly covering , reviewing, and forever praising only the foreign cars. The majority of Canadians want to see true domestics highlighted in print not this third world crap we see every day.
I have to ask; What motorcylce is made in Canada and how does it corellate to your first comment? I'm sure the ricer bikes are all made in some third world country somewhere, perhaps India?
This was a waste of ink kids.