The Winning Hand: West End Times Article - September 19, 2009
I know certain washing machines eat socks.
I know some couches and sofas eat coins.
I know some people gain weight and they swear they are eating less.
MMMMmmmmm...I have a new one...
Where is all the money? Billions, actually, that Loto Québec NETS???
Please check your pockets, I`ve checked mine, and all I`ve found is lint, a TicTac and a 5 dollar bill.
Loto Québec`s mission statement as to where the money is going is the following: to better the healthcare system, to improve the province`s infrastructure, and to help the public schools systems that are in dire need of a boost.
Regarding the healthcare system, has anybody seen more medical equipment on the floors? Waiting-times for patients (it should be spelled ‘patience’) are longer, not shorter. Inaccessibility to medical specialists is on the rise. Closed beds in hospitals remain closed and doctors and nurses are fleeing the province faster than Noah, his arc, and the animals from the floods. I thought that the only things that fell from the sky were snow, rain and bird droppings. I didn’t realize that the weather forecast should include a chance of falling cement late in the day.
This province is falling apart!
Our road system and its problems now make the news daily.
Our public schools are so wonderful that the EMSB and the Lester B Pearson School Boards claim smaller enrolments than years gone by, whilst the waiting time for private schools have increased at alarming rates.
While my family tree doesn’t connect me to Albert Einstein or any brilliant mathematicians of modern times, something, many things, just don’t add up.
With billions in net profits earned from Quebec’s lottery system, I, and so many like me, just want to know ‘where has all the money gone???’
Yes. Where has the money gone??
Citizens, taxpayers, our neighbours and friends, you and I...we all want to know the same thing. There are 16 000, 18 000, 20 000 persons a day playing any one of our provincial lotteries, or walking into 1 of our 4 provincially owned and run casinos. There are people losing their shirt, pants and underwear in the process. Where the heck is the dough?
The Casino de Montréal, 16 years young this September, is by far the number 1 culprit in depleting the pockets and bank accounts from Mr. and Mrs. Joe Blow.
Even the cleaning lady EVENTUALLY finds your missing sock.
Even your kids EVENTUALLY find the loonies and toonies that fell out of your pockets and landed between the sofa pillows.
EVENTUALLY the over eater comes clean and admits to the chocolate donut binge at 2 in the morning.
But what has Loto Québec admitted to?
They hardly admit to, or even come close to, admitting all the suicides that take place as a direct result of that heinous building. Loto Québec never talks about the multi-million dollar art collection they have amassed over the years; artwork that is hanging in all 4 casinos and their head office here on Sherbrooke Street. You don't get a collection like theirs because they are LOSING money. And true to my word, one of my favourites, is how do they explain a car jockey at the casino making 60-90 K a year (if not more)?
C`mon people! I've said it before...WAKE UP PEOPLE! WAKE UP!
The poor goose that spoke on behalf of Loto Québec at the International Symposium a couple of weeks ago, went on bragging that about 30-35 million is spent annually in HELPING the problem gambler. Let’s see; the lotteries rake in about 4 billion annually, they spend about 35 million in projects to help the sick. That`s about 0.75 % .
That tiny number isn't even a number...ITS A FRACTION!
WHERE IS THE MONEY?
Wasn't that the question?
$illy people who play.
$tupid machines that will never make you money.
$avings that took so long for you and your family to put aside, GONE!
$chmucks that we are to play with AFTER TAXED DOLLARS!
$mart are those whom play just for the fun of it, win OR lose, and play with money they can afford never to see again, because THEY WONT!
$neaky is Loto Québec to give rights to The National Bank to setup shop INSIDE the casino. Having cash, ATM cards and Debit cards aren't enough. Withdraw money from your personal bank account on the spot. Hey, that's civic minded, isn't it?
Why aren't there 24/7 National Banks next to Sun Youth, Museums, Synagogues or Churches for those in the mood to make a donation 3:45 in the morning?
This is a sick province that's time has come.
Quebec cannot live on the rich heritage of being known for its POUTINE, BEAVERTAILS and Potholes any longer.
Why not be leaders in the fight for PROBLEM GAMBLING and all that it effects.
Why not have Quebec hold a public forum monthly and explain IN CLEAR ENGLISH what the lottery revenues for the month are, and where the profit is going.
And to please explain it in simpler words than our famous referendum question.
I can see the headlines now...
"The monies taken in but not necessarily received through the casino business or parts thereof the lottery industry in the province of Quebec but not necessarily purchased in the said Province at local or out of town retailers but not restricted to Quebec, for the sole purpose of sales for the said business of lottery sales..." - Loto Québec Spokesperson explaining where the money is.
