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Ontario’s survey on alcohol retailing is open to abuse, critics say

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If you really want the Ford government to allow corner stores and big box outlets to sell alcohol, you can give that feedback to the province many, many times over. 

Ontario’s new online survey about changing the alcohol retailing rules in Ontario does not limit the number of times a person can respond.

I did the survey 10 times in the space of an hour on Tuesday from the same computer, sometimes filing exactly the same answers as a previous survey, sometimes different ones. 

That could allow interest groups — whether favouring greater privatization in alcohol sales or opposing it — to skew the results, experts say. If a politician can hire a troll farm to influence an election, or if scalper bots can buy up tickets to resell at a profit, a company or union could pay a firm to generate thousands of responses designed to look like public input.

« Have your say on modernizing the rules for the sale and consumption of alcohol in Ontario, » says the government’s online survey. It asks Ontarians what changes they would like to see in alcohol retailing, with such options as more locations, more private retailers, and more stand-alone stores that only sell alcohol products. The survey is open for responses until Feb. 1.  

Experts in research methodology question why the government set up the survey in a way that could cast doubt on the accuracy of the data. 

The survey is open to abuse, said Margaret Brigley, CEO of Corporate Research Associates, a national market research firm headquartered in Halifax. 

One question in the Ontario government’s online survey about expanding alcohol sales.

« There’s the opportunity for people to influence the results, if they’re a lobby group that is so inclined, » Brigley said in a phone interview Tuesday. 

The government will for the most part be able to identify repeated and duplicate entries through what it calls an « in-depth analysis of submissions, » says a spokesperson for Finance Minister Vic Fedeli. 

« Online consultations can help people to provide feedback on government decisions and policies, quickly and easily, » said Fedeli’s press secretary, Robert Gibson.

« We are inviting the public to share their views on how we can increase choice and convenience in a safe and responsible way, » said Gibson in an email Tuesday to CBC News. « We look forward to hearing what all participants have to say. »

The fundamental problem with such an online survey is that it does not give the government a statistically accurate sample of public opinion in Ontario, says Matthias Schonlau, a professor of statistics at the University of Waterloo. 

The province’s online survey on alcohol sales asks: ‘Do you have any other comments or suggestions about how we can modernize Ontario’s alcohol sector?’ (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)

« It’s fine to collect that data but it’s not a scientific survey, » Schonlau said Tuesday in a phone interview.

« People could give multiple answers, you could have specific agendas by individuals or companies that sponsor internet trolls to generate a lot of data, » he said.  

Both Schonlau and Brigley said to truly get an accurate representation of public opinion on the issue, the government should conduct randomized polling. 

The online survey is only one way the government will get public input, said Gibson. He said the province will also hold roundtable discussions with key groups such as « alcohol producers, public health and safety organizations, retailers, municipalities, consumer groups, and restaurants and bars. »

Premier Doug Ford himself cast doubt on the accuracy of another online survey conducted by his government. Last month, Ford claimed « certain groups » flooded the government’s consultation website on education reforms on its first day. The initial response, obtained under the freedom of information act, showed widepsread support for the Wynne government’s sex-ed curriculum, something Ford has promised to scrap. 

The Ontario government is conducting this online survey about changing the rules on alcohol sales and consumption.

NDP deputy leader Sara Singh says the government’s online surveys amount to « phony consultations » because the PCs are only interested in answers that justify the moves they want to make.

« This [alcohol convenience survey] is again another one of those fishing expeditions to get the type of responses they were looking for, » said Singh in an interview Tuesday. 

Singh said she is concerned the government will use that data to make its case for more private sector involvement in alcohol sales and potentially privatizing the LCBO. 

« You can answer this survey an unlimited number of times; you absolutely can skew the data, » she said.

The Ford government has already promised to allow the sale of beer from corner stores. However, it must first renegotiate an agreement with Brewers’ Retail, owners of The Beer Store, prohibiting further expansion of retail outlets for beer beyond a limited number of supermarkets until the deal expires in 2025.

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Anglais

Nostalgia and much more with Starburst XXXtreme

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Get a taste of adventure with Starburst XXXtreme based on the legendary NetEnt Game. The nostalgic themes are sure to capture fans of the classic version as they get treated to higher intensity, better visuals, and features. The most significant element of the game is its volatility. Patience will not be an essential virtue considering the insane gameplay, and there is a lot of win potential involved. It retains the original makeup of the previous game while adding a healthy dose of adrenaline. 

Starburst Visuals and Symbols

The game is definitely more conspicuous than before. The setting happens over a 5-reel, 3-row game grid with nine fixed win lines, which function if a succession from the left to the right reel is present. Only those players that that attain the highest win per bet line are paid. From a visual standpoint, the Starburst XXXtreme slots illustrates lightning effects behind the reels, which is not surprising as it is inherited from the original version. Available themes include Classic, Jewels, and Space. The game is also available in both desktop and mobile versions, which is advantageous for players considering the global pandemic. According to Techguide, American gamers are increasingly having more engaging gaming experiences to socialize to fill the gap of in-person interaction. Starburst XXXtreme allows them to fill the social void at a time when there is so much time to be had indoors. 

Starburst XXXTreme Features

Players get to alternate on three features which are Starburst Wilds, XXXtreme Spins, and Random Wilds. The first appears on reels 2,3, or 4. When these land, they expand to cover all positions while also calculating the wins. They are also locked for a respin. If a new one hits, it also becomes locked while awarding another respin. Starburst XXXtreme offers a choice between two scenarios for a higher stake. In one scenario with a ten times stake, the Starburst Wild is set on random on reels 2,3, or 4, and a multiplier starts the respin. The second scenario, which has a 95 times stake, starts with two guaranteed starburst wilds on reels 2,3, or 4. it also plays out using respin game sequence and features. The game also increases the potential with the Random Wilds feature to add Starburst Wilds to a vacant reel at the end of a spin. Every Starburst Wild gives a random multiplier with potential wins of x2, x3, x5, x10, x25, x50, x100, or even x150.

The new feature is sure to be a big hit with the gaming market as online gambling has shown significant growth during the lockdown. AdAge indicates the current casino customer base is an estimated one in five Americans, so Starburst XXXtreme’s additional features will achieve considerable popularity. 

What We Think About The Game

The gambling market has continued to diversify post-pandemic, so it is one of the most opportune times to release an online casino-based game. Thankfully Starburst XXXtreme features eye-catching visuals, including the jewels and space themes. These attract audience participation and make the gameplay inviting. The game also has a nostalgic edge. The previous NetEnt iteration featured similar visuals and gameplay, so the audience has some familiarity with it. The producers have revamped this version by tweaking the features to improve the volatility and engagement. 

That is characterized by the potential win cap of 200,000 times the bet. Starburst XXXtreme does not just give betting alternatives for players that want to go big. The increase of multipliers also provides a great experience. If the respins in the previous version were great, knowing that multipliers can go hundreds of times overtakes the game to a new level. 

Players should get excited about this offering. All of the features can be triggered within a single spin. Whether one plays the standard game or takes the XXXtreme spin route, it is possible to activate all of the features. Of course, the potential 200,000 times potential is a huge carrot. However, the bet size is probably going to be restricted and vary depending on the casino. It is also worth pointing out that a malfunction during the gameplay will void all of the payouts and progress. Overall, the game itself has been designed to provide a capped win of 200,000 times the original bet. 

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Anglais

‘We’re back’: Montreal festival promoters happy to return but looking to next year

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In downtown Montreal, it’s festival season.

In the city’s entertainment district, a musical act was conducting a sound check on stage Friday evening — the second day of the French-language version of the renowned Just For Laughs comedy festival. Tickets for many of the festival’s free outdoor shows — limited by COVID-19 regulations — were sold out.

Two blocks away, more than 100 people were watching an acoustic performance by the Isaac Neto Trio — part of the last weekend of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, a celebration of music from the African continent and the African diaspora.

With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit capacity, festival organizers say they’re glad to be back but looking forward to next year when they hope border restrictions and capacity limits won’t affect their plans.

Charles Décarie, Just For Laughs’ CEO and president, said this is a “transition year.”

“Even though we have major constraints from the public health group in Montreal, we’ve managed to design a festival that can navigate through those constraints,” Décarie said.

The French-language Juste pour rire festival began on July 15 and is followed by the English-language festival until July 31.

When planning began in February and March, Décarie said, organizers came up with a variety of scenarios for different crowd sizes, ranging from no spectators to 50 per cent of usual capacity.

“You’ve got to build scenarios,” he said. “You do have to plan a little bit more than usual because you have to have alternatives.”

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Anglais

MELS new major movie studio to be built in Montreal

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MONTREAL — MELS Studios will build a new film studio in Montreal, filling some of the gap in supply to meet the demand of Hollywood productions.

MELS president Martin Carrier said on Friday that MELS 4 studio construction will begin « as soon as possible », either in the fall or winter of next year. The studio could host productions as early as spring 2023.

The total investment for the project is $76 million, with the Quebec government contributing a $25 million loan. The project will create 110 jobs, according to the company.

The TVA Group subsidiary’s project will enable it to stand out « even more » internationally, according to Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau. In the past, MELS Studios has hosted several major productions, including chapters of the X-Men franchise. The next Transformers movie is shooting this summer in Montreal.

Péladeau insisted that local cultural productions would also benefit from the new facility, adding that the studio ensures foreign revenues and to showcase talent and maintain an industry of Quebec producers.

STUDIO SHORTAGE

The film industry is cramped in Montreal.

According to a report published last May by the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ), there is a shortage of nearly 400,000 square feet of studio space.

With the addition of MELS 4, which will be 160,000 square feet, the company is filling part of the gap.

Carrier admitted that he has had to turn down contracts because of the lack of space, representing missed opportunities of « tens of millions of dollars, not only for MELS, but also for the Quebec economy. »

« Montreal’s expertise is in high demand, » said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who was present at the announcement.

She said she received great testimonials from « Netflix, Disney, HBO and company » during an economic mission to Los Angeles in 2019.

« What stands out is that they love Montreal because of its expertise, knowledge and beauty. We need more space, like MELS 4, » she said.

There is still not enough capacity in Quebec, acknowledged Minister of Finance, the Economy and Innovation Eric Girard.

« It is certain that the government is concerned about fairness and balance, so if other requests come in, we will study them with the same seriousness as we have studied this one, » he said.

Grandé Studios is the second-largest player in the industry. Last May, the company said it had expansion plans that should begin in 2022. Investissement Québec and Bell are minority shareholders in the company.

For its part, MELS will have 400,000 square feet of production space once MELS 4 is completed. The company employs 450 people in Quebec and offers a range of services including studio and equipment rentals, image and sound postproduction, visual effects and a virtual production platform.

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