MCNEIL PUSHES FOR A DECISION ON KENO
Date: Thursday August 13, 2009

(Halifax, NS) Opposition leader Stephen McNeil is calling on the NDP
government to remove the controversial Keno game from Nova Scotia
establishments immediately.

“We were very clearly opposed to the implementation of Keno when the
previous MacDonald government launched it suddenly last spring and our
stance hasn’t changed,” said McNeil. “It now appears as though
Minister Steele’s opinion has changed.”

Minister of Finance Graham Steele told reporters after a government
cabinet meeting this morning that ‘he hasn’t made up his mind on
Keno yet’. McNeil believes this contradicts Steele’s previous
position while in opposition.

“The NDP were vocal in their resistance to Keno and exposing problem
gamblers to such a dangerous game,” McNeil explained. “Now that they
are in government, they seem to see things differently.”

While the Liberal leader acknowledges that Keno has underperformed in
terms of revenue, he insists that every dollar matters in these
difficult economic times - especially to a new government that has
repeatedly promised to balance the province’s books.

“The Finance Minister should be acting quickly to eliminate this
highly addictive game before he and his government become addicted to
its revenue,” concluded McNeil. “Judging by the Minister’s
comments, it may already be too late.”

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