The Ontario Liberals were under attack at the Legislature for the second day straight over a multi-billion dollar casino deal.
On Tuesday, the Opposition took Finance Minister Charles Sousa to task over the government's political connections to two lobbyists hired by Great Canadian Gaming.
Its the company chosen by Ontario Lottery & Gaming to expand Woodbine racetrack into a casino, and the 22-year, multi-billion dollar agreement will also see it run several other gambling facilities around the province.
The Progressive-Conservatives claim public records show that "high-powered" lobbyists met with government officials, including those from the Ministry of Finance.
Those lobbyists are Bob Lopinski – a veteran political operative who was involved in Premier Kathleen Wynne's election campaign, as well as the administration of former Premier Dalton McGuinty.
The other lobbyist hired by Great Canadian is Philip Dewan, who is a former Chief of Staff to McGuinty.
Great Canadian's partnership with the provincial government has been under fire at the Legislature this week over a BC government report that accuses employees at Great Canadian's casino near Vancouver of knowingly accepting suspicious cash transactions.
2 people behind a money-transfer company face charges in connection with the case.
"With a serious review into money laundering in BC, the public is left scratching its head at why this company was selected to run the Toronto casino," says Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown, in a written statement.
Sousa has insisted that Great Canadian was selected to be the casino operator through an independent bidding process.
OLG, however, reports to Sousa through the Ministry of Finance.
"We don't look at the partisan matters," Sousa said, when challenged on the matter during Question Period.
"We look at what's in the best interests of Ontarians."
The Finance Minister again rejected calls from the Ontario PC's to put the casino deal on hold, pending an investigation.
"The right and responsible approach is to allow the process to proceed as intended," Sousa says.
The Finance Minister has pointed to the fact that Great Canadian Gaming is not under criminal investigation, and the company had insisted from the outset it follows all the rules.
The head investigator with Ontario's gambling regulator has told NEWSTALK 1010 that officers are in touch with investigators in British Columbia about the case surrounding Great Canadian.