Not Happy With The Liberal Budget? Tell The NDP Your Story

Published: March 28, 2012 12:49 pm EDT

New Democrat Leader Andrea Horwath called on Ontarians to have their say on the provincial budget released yesterday, and members of the horse racing industry are encouraged to voice their opinions and tell their story

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“We have been clear that in order for this provincial budget to be acceptable, it needs to work for everyday people,” said Horwath. “Last October, Ontarians voted for positive change. In this minority government, New Democrats are taking this budget very seriously.”

Today, Horwath unveiled a website and toll-free number that Ontarians can use to tell New Democrats what they like and don’t like about yesterday’s budget. Ontarians can have their say online at www.ondpcaucus.com/yoursay/, ondpcaucus.com/exprimez-vous/ or by telephone at 1-855-ONT-BDGT (668-2348).

“This provincial budget will have real impacts on the lives of everyday Ontarians. That’s why it’s essential we ask them if this is the sort of budget that puts their interests first or if they want an election,” Horwath said, noting that a provincial election could hang in the balance. “We need to know if this is a budget that people can live with, and what kinds of changes they would need to see.”

The Ontario Legislature will vote on the budget motion and any amendments next week.

OHRIA is launching a phone in campaign to encourage the NDP to take up our cause as part of their negotiations with the government. Their release encourages for the horse racing industry to make three phone calls: one to the survey line, one to Horwath's office and one to the closest NDP MPP to your community. The release is as follows.


The Ontario NDP have a stark choice to make. Will they support the Liberals budget or force an election? As you can imagine they are under an incredible amount of pressure and it is important that as they negotiate with the Liberals on the budget that our concerns are included in those conversations.

The attached template will be made available by email to the thousands of email addresses we've collected and would like you to make it available to each of your members by email as well. It is important that employers in our industry reach out to their employees to have them share their story with the NDP as well. We need the NDP to understand the serious degree of impact here.

I have been impressed by the NDP's commitment to stand up and fight for our industry, and it is important in the coming days and weeks we solidify that by making our concerns part of their negotiation.

This presents an incredible opportunity, but one that will only be realized if we all stand together and have everyone pick up the phone and make three short calls.

In our time of need, we must all find the five minutes it will take to do this before April 5, 2012.

Horse Racing and Breeding Industry Ontario Budget Mobilization

1) Call your own NDP MPP or the closest NDP MPP to your community (see below).

Tell them your name, what city you live in, how horse racing impacts you. Urge them to support honouring the OLG Slots at Racetracks Program through 2015 and to have the government negotiate with OHRIA on the long term future of the industry.

e.g. ‘My name is XXXX XXXXX. I’m from XXXXXXX and work as a XXXXXXX. Can you please tell MPP XXXXX that it’s important to me and thousands of other Ontarians that the NDP demand the government honour the OLG Slots at Racetracks Program through 2015 to protect the 60,000 jobs Ontario’s horse racing and breeding industry support? That will give the government and OHRIA time to work together on a long term plan for our industry.

2) Call the NDP Budget hotline 1-855-ONT BDGT (1-855-668-2348).

Leave a voice message supporting Ontario’s horse racing and breeding industry. The NDP want to know what you like/dislike about the budget, whether you would support an election, your name, city and phone number. A sample message is ‘My name is XXXX XXXXX. I’m from XXXXXXX and work as a XXXXXXX. I dislike the government’s plan to cancel the OLG Slots at Racetrack Program because it will kill 60,000 jobs in Ontario and really hurt rural Ontario. If you’re going to support the budget, I want you to make your support conditional on the government honouring the OLG Slots at Racetracks Program through 2015 to protect the 60,000 jobs Ontario’s horse racing and breeding industry support. That will give the government and OHRIA time to work together on a long term plan for our industry. If the government won’t agree to that, then I would support an election and will vote for the party that supports Ontario’s horse racing and breeding industry.

3) Call Andrea Horwath’s Office: 416-325-2777:

Tell them your name, what city you live in, how horse racing impacts you. Urge them to support honouring the OLG Slots at Racetracks Program through 2015 and to have the government negotiate with OHRIA on the long term future of the industry.

e.g. ‘My name is XXXX XXXXX. I’m from XXXXXXX and work as a XXXXXXX. Can you please tell MPP Horwath that it’s important to me and thousands of other Ontarians that the NDP demand the government honour the OLG Slots at Racetracks Program through 2015 to protect the 60,000 jobs Ontario’s horse racing and breeding industry support? That will give the government and OHRIA time to work together on a long term plan for our industry.

List of NDP MPPs

  • Teresa J. Armstrong (London--Fanshawe) - 519-668-1104
  • Gilles Bisson (Timmins--James Bay) - 705-268-6400
  • Sarah Campbell (Kenora--Rainy River) - 807-274-7619
  • Cheri DiNovo (Parkdale--High Park) - 416-763-5630
  • Cindy Forster (Welland) - 905-732-6884
  • France Gélinas (Nickel Belt) - 705-969-3621
  • Andrea Horwath (Hamilton Centre) - 905-544-9644
  • Michael Mantha (Algoma--Manitoulin) - 705-461-9710
  • Rosario Marchese (Trinity--Spadina) - 416-603-9664
  • Paul Miller (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) - 905-545-0114
  • Taras Natyshak (Essex) - 519-776-6420
  • Michael Prue (Beaches--East York) - 416-690-1032
  • Jonah Schein (Davenport) - 416-535-3158
  • Peter Tabuns (Toronto--Danforth) - 416-461-0223
  • Monique Taylor (Hamilton Mountain) - 905-388-9734
  • John Vanthof (Timiskaming--Cochrane) - 705-647-5995
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