For Immediate Release
March 30, 2007

STERLING: MCGUINTY MUST DEMAND CAPLAN'S RESIGNATION
Mishandling of "Lottogate" illustrates McGuinty's weak leadership

(Carleton Place, Ontario) - Progressive Conservative MPP Norm Sterling today said that Dalton McGuinty must demand the resignation of David Caplan, the minister currently responsible for Ontario's lottery system, and launched a petition drive to that effect.

"Caplan sat on his hands for months and did nothing to investigate allegations of millions in ripped-off lottery prizes," said Mr. Sterling. "Dalton McGuinty and David Caplan were content to let these stories and rumours swirl uninvestigated until they got caught. If they really cared about the lottery-ticket buying public, they would have acted to correct the problems as soon as they became aware."

Caplan claimed he didn't become aware of the problems at the OLGC until 10 days before the "Fifth Estate" aired a program called "Luck of the Draw" that detailed how Bob Edmonds and others had lottery tickets stolen and the OLGC did nothing. Media reports have revealed that senior staff in Caplan's office were notified of the problems more than six months before the Fifth Estate program aired. Instead of working to fix the problem, top Dalton McGuinty strategists led an effort to suppress the story.

"To have failed to act for at least six months after becoming aware of the scandal is an act of negligence at best. But this is the kind of weak leadership that people have come to expect from Dalton McGuinty and his government," said Mr. Sterling.

"A true leader wouldn't have ducked the problem," said Mr. Sterling. "A true leader would have rolled up his sleeves and acted immediately to ensure that the trust people place in the lottery system was preserved. That won't happen so long as Dalton McGuinty lets David Caplan stay in office."

"I urge everybody in my riding to sign this petition (see attached), so we can let Dalton McGuinty know this minister must go."

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For more information, please call Lanark-Carleton MPP Norm Sterling at: (613) 253-1171