Mayor pushes for lottery jobs to be centralized in the Sault

All Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation jobs should be located at its headquarters in Sault Ste. Marie, the city's mayor told the corporation's senior leadership at a meeting today.

Mayor Matthew Shoemaker addressed OLG’s board of directors and executive management team during their board meeting on Aug. 15, reiterating his position on the OLG workforce.

Shoemaker was invited to speak at the meeting in Sault Ste. Marie by OLG president and CEO Duncan Hannay.  

Since his election, the mayor has actively engaged with OLG, touring its headquarters and meeting with staff, the city said in a release. 

Over the past two years, he has had several discussions with Hannay about expanding OLG’s operations locally, emphasizing the local talent pool, the cost benefits of operating in Sault Ste. Marie and the significant economic impact of jobs in the area compared to those in Toronto, the city added.

“Sault Ste. Marie is the headquarters of the OLG and all jobs belong here,” said Mayor Shoemaker. “I’m committed to continue sharing this message. 

"This is not just about advocating for our community – it’s about what’s best for Ontario. We have a skilled workforce developed over decades of OLG’s presence here. Operating in Sault Ste. Marie is far more cost-efficient than in Toronto, and the economic benefits of a job here are significantly greater than a job down south.”

Shoemaker said that OLG’s leadership has been receptive to his message, and he is encouraged by the progress made in recent years. This includes relocating a senior executive position to Sault Ste. Marie, holding a two-day virtual recruiting fair focused exclusively on filling local vacancies and the appointment of a new board member from Sault Ste. Marie.

Looking ahead, Shoemaker said he plans to continue advocating for the Government of Ontario to mandate the relocation of all OLG jobs to Sault Ste. Marie.

In the 2022 budget, the Province announced that the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s Toronto-based head office would be moving to London as part of a broader strategy to save taxpayer dollars and promote economic development across Ontario.

Shoemaker said he believes fully relocating OLG’s operations to Sault Ste. Marie would be an ideal demonstration of this strategy in action.

“Moving OLG jobs to Sault Ste. Marie aligns with the Province’s broader goals of balancing economic development across Ontario, reducing the concentration of jobs and economic prosperity in southern Ontario and supporting the economic vitality of northern regions," Shoemaker said. 

"It is a strategic move that offers financial benefits to the OLG while simultaneously driving economic growth and diversification in the city

“With Sault Ste. Marie experiencing significant population growth for the first time in a number of years, there is no better time to continue the positive momentum.”