Members of Parliament led by the Liberal Government Defeat the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act

In defeating Brian Masse’s (Windsor West) Private Members Bill the Safe and Regulated Sports Wagering Act today, Masse feels the Liberal Government has handed organized crime a $10 billion annual paycheck.  Members of Parliament led by the Governing Liberals voted against the C-221 which sought to remove the federal restriction on Single Event Sport Wagering in Canada.

Masse pointed out that by defeating C-221 the Liberal Government prioritized organized crime over good governance: “By defeating this legislation the Liberal Government just endorsed an unacceptable reality in the gaming sector in Canada.  They are well aware of the massive revenue stream sports wagering is providing organized crime to fund human trafficking, the illegal
drug and weapons trade, money laundering and tax evasion.  Equally disturbing, the Liberal Government ignored an opportunity to create and protect jobs and stimulate economic growth in the entertainment and tourism sector as well as in data management, fin-tech, web design, journalism and others.  This is a huge missed opportunity that perpetuates a completely unacceptable yet entirely correctable status quo.”

Stakeholders across sectors and interests have been calling on the government to implement this change for years.   Despite the clear calls from National as well as regional Business and Labour Groups, Provinces, Law Enforcement, Professional Sports, the Olympic Movement, Sports Security Experts the Governing Liberals have opted to ignore their good counsel on a significant problem affecting Canada and the international sports movement and business generally.

Masse was angered by the Liberal Government’s stubborn refusal to allow the Justice Committee hear witness testimony before rendering a final decision on the Bill: “The Liberals have allowed injudiciousness to trump sound public policy development.  By quashing this Bill at this stage the Liberal Government demonstrated stubborn ignorance by not even hearing from witnesses who would have helped them understand a Bill they clearly don’t even fully comprehend.  This Bill represented a perfect opportunity address a wide range of priorities that have been expressed by this Government over and over again. Today, small mindedness won over good governance.”