One Voice For Ont. Horsemen?

Published: March 6, 2014 11:26 am EST

Central Ontario Standardbred Association President Bill O’Donnell has said that the various groups representing the province’s Standardbred horsepeople will sit down with officials from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food this month in an effort to establish one group representing Ontario horsepeople.

O'Donnell has been cited as saying that a facilitator from OMAF is supposed to meet with officials from the various groups in an attempt to build the framework by March 31.

The news comes courtesy of a report by Dave Briggs in the Guelph Mercury. In his piece, Briggs states that getting officials from COSA and the Ontario Harness Horse Association (OHHA) ‘together under one roof won’t be easy.’ Briggs has quoted O’Donnell as saying, "Maybe it's going to be a short meeting. I don't know.”

Speaking about the philosophies of COSA and OHHA, O’Donnell said, "So, we do have some differences of opinion, but there's a middle ground, maybe." O'Donnell went on to say, "When you get the government involved and they're giving you money now, it's a little different than it was not only in terms of transparency, but because you have your hat in your hand all the time."

(With files from the Guelph Mercury)

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