Duncan To Meet With Racing?

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Published: April 25, 2012 04:36 pm EDT

Reports indicate that after months of downplaying the partnership, economic impact and employment numbers presented by Ontario's horse racing industry, Finance Minister Dwight Duncan may finally sit down face-to-face with racing representatives

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OHRIA's Sue Leslie told Bullet News Niagara earlier this week that she had been trying to arrange a meeting with Duncan for months and she's "pretty sure that meeting is going to go forward."

On Wednesday, OHRIA issued the following release on its discussions with MPPs.


I wanted to send you an update on our efforts to work with all three parties at Queen's Park to find a sustainable way forward for the Ontario horse racing and breeding industry in light of the government's cancellation of the Slots at Racetracks Program.

OHRIA has been engaged in discussion with senior government officials and opposition party members for more than two months now and while news that these efforts have resulted in some transitional funding, as confirmed by Budget 2012, we do not believe this is sufficient to support or sustain our industry.

There is still a lot of work and effort to be done to ensure that there is a go forward model that is fair to horsepeople, breeders and the racetracks. This is a key aspect that OHRIA will continue to work towards in any future agreement.

OHRIA continues to work diligently with representatives from the government, opposition parties, OLG and industry participants to find a resolution to ensure horse racing and breeding can continue to provide thousands of Ontarians with employment, drive local rural economies and provide the public with the entertainment they derive from visiting Ontario’s racetracks.

The passage of Budget 2012 does not provide our industry with all the tools we need, however I want to assure you that conversations are ongoing and OHRIA remains committed to do whatever is necessary to ensure that the horse racing and breeding industry in Ontario is preserved for the long-term.

Sincerely,

Sue Leslie
President - OHRIA

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