The Fort Erie Race Track will not be getting slot machines and that's led to accusations of a "backroom deal."
A statement from the Minister of Finance late last week says the Fort Erie Race Track elected to receive additional financial support and "declined to accept slots."
The deal was negotiated between Ontario Lottery and Gaming and the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium which operates the horse racing business.
Memebers of the Consortium signed non-disclosure agreements which means they can't talk about the details of the offer from the OLG.
Fort Erie mayor Wayne Redekop says the option of cash was never mentioned by the Province and the Town was never consulted on this alternative.
He says "it appears that the government structured a back room deal behind closed doors " with the Consortium and that's "not acceptable to the residents of Fort Erie or the Town."
Redekop says he will also have council look into a possible conflict of interest as the general manager of the Economic Development and Tourism Corporation, Jim Thibert. also sits on the board of the Consortium.
Meantime, Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates says "this backroom deal tramples the efforts of Fort Erie families and horse people throughout the region to secure a future for the track."
He says the slot race track program is vital to returning 300 jobs to the town.