Scott Scantlebury, spokesman for the Greater Essex County District School Board said the issue is being discussed but a decision hasn’t yet been made. Stephen Fields said the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board has made a decision on opting out, but can’t release details ahead of its board meeting Tuesday night. And we continue to be a partner with the city so the board made the decision to opt out.” “And second, the orchestra has had a long-standing relationship with the City of Windsor.

“First, some members of the board did not like the fact that they were named parties to the suit without being consulted. “The board made the decision and there were two factors at play,” said WSO executive director Sheila Wisdom. The Windsor Symphony Orchestra will also decline to take part. Likewise the University of Windsor will not join the class-action suit - and will encourage clubs connected to the school to do the same, though ultimately independent groups make their own decision, said spokesman John Coleman. “So we’re not going to harm them in any way.” “The city is very supportive of the art gallery,” said AGW board president Jim Marsh. The Art Gallery of Windsor, which rents its space from the city for a dollar a year, will opt out. Local taxes may go up to cover that amount, given $80 million is 20 per cent of Windsor’s annual tax levy. The suit amounts to an estimated $70 million for Windsor and $7 million for Tecumseh, plus interest for the period the lawsuit covers, meaning it could amount to more than $80 million. They charged three per cent of the prize boards at every bingo event that was held dating back to 1993. “So the last thing we would want is to go after the city for any money that we were never expecting anyway.”Īt issue is whether the city and town charged more than what it cost them to administer the charity bingo licences - in essence creating an illegal tax. “Maybe the city would have to raise ice or room rental costs. “We’re partners with the city and if the suit does pass obviously someone’s going to have to pay for it,” said WMHA president Dean Lapierre. Windsor police have also opted out.Ī number of other groups have followed, such as the Windsor Minor Hockey Association. Windsor Regional Hospital - seeking $200 million in city-county funding for a proposed new mega-hospital - was first to opt out of the bingo lawsuit.

Windsor bingo high stakes