It was roughly two months ago when standardbred racehorse owner Ed James put up his own money to have his article regarding the Ontario Liberal Government's plan to scrap the slots-at-racetracks program printed in an edition of The Toronto Star. James had promised that there was more to come, and he has followed through.
In his first letter, James had openly questioned the government's decision to do away with the SAR program. In his second letter, the contents of which appear below, James has essentially stated that by allowing U.S. casino operators to run at least a segment of the province's brick-and-mortar casino offerings, the Ontario Liberals will be jamming its coffers with capital which will allow the party to sustain and improve its political power in the province.
The contents of James' second ad appears below.
ONTARIO LIBERAL GOVERNMENT AND US CASINO OPERATORS SCORE A HOME RUN ON JUNE 20TH 2012
As Paul Harvey might have said, “This is the rest of the story.”
My Belief:
In my first article on May 14th I accused the Government of being lost in the fog or laying a smoke screen. The air has now cleared. They were laying a smoke screen and it worked. It was the opposition NDP and PCs who were lost in the fog.
The Liberal smoke screen / The perfect red herring was cancelling the slots at race tracks. A highly successful program contributing $1.1 billion annually to the Government coffers. But they wanted more without developing any programs to generate it. Along came the US Casino Operators Consortium with the answer. Now firmly entrenched in Windsor with Caesars Casino, in Northern Ontario with Casino Rama and in Niagara Falls with two casinos. All operated by the consortiums which includes Caesars in Las Vegas, Penn National Gaming in Pennsylvania, and a combination of families in New York and Chicago, operating the two casinos in Niagara Falls. These casinos not happy with their 40 per cent of profit tax free also wanted more. The perfect marriage made in hell.
Within five years the consortium would guarantee the government $2.5 billion annually in casino revenue and the deficit could be eliminated. From the Liberals' point of view the perfect answer no work or forethought. High returns politically and possibly personally. The conduit was the principles of the OLG. Hands clean for the casinos and the government both, everybody wins except the residents of Ontario. The government could now be supported and possibly controlled by income from their casinos, and the Liberal Government skirts were clean.
The elephant was now in the tent, however there was one hurdle in the way, the highly successful slots at racetrack program. The casino operator’s consortium apparently did not want any competition. The share of the slots at racetrack program, which now went to the communities around Windsor, Milton, etc, and to the equestrian industry supporting places like Guelph University etc. and the racetrack operators could all be theirs. But instead of 25 per cent they could get 40 per cent. A win win for them.
However, in order for this to happen the SAR Program had to be eliminated. The government who was obviously more than willing to cooperate issued the cancellation order. They had to prove to the consortium that they were good soldiers. Their possible proof was to cancel the SAR Program immediately at border locations Sarnia, Windsor, and Fort Erie. Possibly an immediate benefit to the consortiums, Canadians had to cross the border to their casinos where they got all the profits. The government didn’t have to kill anybody to prove their commitment. Maybe, starve to death a few of the potential 60,000 unemployed affected by the cancellation of the SAR Program, but who would notice? Then cancel the balance of the SAR one year later. All other casino competition gone, they now have it all. Fait accompli.
The other side of the coin is this. While paying the Ontario Liberal Government $2.5 billion a year, which is their 60 per cent share of the casino profits, their consortiums share of income at 40 per cent of the operating profits could become $1.65 billion a year tax free. Over four years between elections $6.5 billion earned may be enough to support the continuation of a Liberal Government in Ontario for eternity. Which has to be done to retain their operating contracts. There is a restriction on individual donations to candidates but no restriction on advertising support for candidates.
The consortiums might know how to sway elections with political contributions. It’s not that hard, Ontario becomes like the 51st state in the union controlled by politics and greed.
My take on a fairytale? I don’t think so!
This is how it could have happened. In order to put this plan into effect the Liberals had to pass their budget on June 20th, 2012 (remember that date). If the budget did not pass, they were facing an election. In view of the Liberals' attacks on doctors, teachers and the slots-at-racetracks program affecting possibly 60,000 people, they were in danger of losing numerous seats, enough to lose control of the Government and becoming a weak opposition. McGuinty and Duncan might be out of work.
Here is where the opposition was lost in the fog. To ensure the budget passed the Liberals had to find a foil. Up pops Andrea Horwath and the NDP. If they would abstain from the vote, the Liberals would be home free. What did it take? Liberals passed Bill 114 Tax Amendment Act 2012 the same day as the budget passed. The NDP could carry their banners high for increasing taxes to corporations and high wage earning residents. The perfect pork chop for a pig deal by the Liberals.
In some circles Canada is known as the land of hockey players and whores. How is double passing of bills on the same day, June 20th, for stick handling?
What Ms. Horwath did not realize (historically politicians are not known for their foresight), she possibly sounded the death knell for the NDP and Conservative parties in Ontario from ever having a majority. Money has to be spent on elections, NDP and Progressive Conservatives have limited budgets, Liberals possibly now, with support from the casino operators have a bottomless pit for supporting Liberal candidates.
For the Liberal Party, casino management consortiums and OLG, full speed ahead they now have no roadblocks!
Robin Hood’s program of robbing from the rich and giving to the poor has been reversed by your Liberal government. Their plan is to take from the poor and give to the rich. Not exactly what Robin had in mind.
They also reversed another old adage --- they started with the pillaging first.
Brace yourself!!
Two books you should read outlining government scams are 'The Weasel' by Adrian Humphreys explaining some of the provincial political scams and 'A Capital Scandal' by Robert Fife and John Warren, explaining some federal political scams.
They might scare you!
This scam is right up there with them!
My late father had a great saying, “when money talks honesty walks.”
Maybe he was right!
Ontario wake up and smell the horses***t emanating from the NDP and Liberal coalition!
Ed James, a citizen and horse owner, now more concerned than before.
Stay tuned I still have some of my first communion money left.
Thank you Mr. James. You
Thank you Mr. James. You truly show where this government was headed when the decision was made to end the slots at race tracks programme and we will become one more state politically and economically of the United States if McGuinty and chorts get away with this. Ontario is no longer a place to live, work or raise a family,jobs are gone, small towns are becoming ghost towns, there are no jobs, and no programmes for health care, education and Labour that this government can execute as the ministries are broken. Thank you
Dear Ted This will be my
Dear Ted This will be my last attempt at confusing the issue with facts. "Racing was sustained prior to the SAR so why cant it be so again?" Let me count the ways. Internet poker didnt exist. There were 20 casinos between my home and Las Vegas there are now 600. Takeouts on horse racing wagering are archaic and non competitive. Horse racing prior to SAR program in Ontario was a shadow of the present industry. I am not more optimistic today than June 22 as my comment was addressing a dumb comment by an OLG rep who said maybe the racetracks wont survive but the industry will. I dont know how many racetracks will survive or how many people will be employed if the racetracks are only funded with paramutuel wagering but I know it will be alot less than the 17 tracks and 35000 full time employed presently. Ted I dont know if you own a casino or even own a horse but for my ten cents I as a horse owner feel it is a lot more intelligent for my Ontario government to support the racing industry with a slot partnership than bingo hall operators or US casino operators. Ted you obviously have a different opinion and I respect that but I would think my comments would be just as distasteful on Bingo Canadas website.
Maybe Dennis Mills or Bob
Maybe Dennis Mills or Bob Rucimen can lobbying the federal government or have the connections to have a federal investigation into the OLG and the fiberals. The federal governments stands to lose big time as well from the loss of 60,000 jobs.
If it was the Auto Industry they would be jumping in with both feet !!
Very Interesting in who is
Very Interesting in who is buying all the bingo halls and the relationship to the Fiberals and OLG. Maybe a little insider trading. All i know is this corrupt government led by McGuinty and Duncan and propped up by a weak soon to be non existant NDP must be removed from power before the rich have all the money and decent hard working people of Ontario have none. I believe this government and deal should be investigated by the authorities!
Regarding Ed James
Regarding Ed James advertisement. Everyone should copy, paste his ad content , both letters,and attach to an email list and email it to everyone you know and ask thewm to pass it on to their list of contacts with a subject title HELP US!
Wow. We need to support a man
Wow. We need to support a man like Mr. James. Can someone give me his address or email...I am a small owner form Quebec and I will like to participate financially to Mr. James campaign. Please owners from North America...feel free to join in. Francois Lecomte from Quebec [email protected]
You forgot to mention Larry
You forgot to mention Larry Tannenbaum, former Liberal party bigwig who has been buying up bingo hall licenses in Ontario and stands to gain directly from the OLG plan to put Slot like machines in the bingo halls. They needed the SAR slots to go away too in order to make that bit of pork barrelling work. Is it true that Tannenbaum is also a vice president of the US casino company involved in the Sarnia casino? The same company that is likely the only one operating in Ontario that will measure up to the high standard of experience that the OLG has set in their Request for Interest.
Ted your constant comments
Ted your constant comments about racing sustainability without slots is totally offbase. Not one person has ever suggested that racing and the industry could ever be the same size without slots. Racetracks are gambling establishments much the same as Casino Rama and bingo halls and every form of gambling product is constantly being looked at as a way to increase revenue and if one of your present sources of revenue was taken away then you you are less sustainable. Would Casino Rama be as sustainable if they took card games away or even worse slots? Are the bingo halls going to be more sustainable with the addition of slots? Racing employment and the economics of the racing industry will be dramatically decreased when the slots are removed and it is not because of your assertion that racing is flawed. Maybe you would be happy if all the slot machines had pictures of horses on the screens or that all of the slot machines were instant racing similar to Kentucky. Horse racing is not sustainable at the same level of employment or race dates without the slot revenue or some other form of revenue to replace it,in but New Jersey which is sustained by paramutel wagering is the furthest thing from a shining example of a jurisdiction that got it right. In fact Mr James assertions are probably the best way to summarize the problem racing has in North America. When the politicians sell out to vegas style casino operators the racing industies in those states and provinces become extinct or marginal at best. Congrats Mr James for spending your own money to benefit so many in the racing industry.
In reply to Ted your constant comments by glenn bechtel
As I said everyone has a
As I said everyone has a right to their opinion. I'm a believer that slots don't belong anywhere but a casino and don't think asking how racing plans on being sustainable without slot revenue is exactly the question and not off base. I believe the top brass at WEG has made mention that they could cease operations if slot revenue is not part of the equation. So to your comment that no one has ever said racing could be the same size without slots is not true as almost everyone has said they will likley cease without slot revenue let alone be the same size as today. Racing was sustainable prior to the SAR program so why can't it be so again.
Further Mr Betchel it seems you are more optimistic regarding the future of racing as your statement on June 22 comparing Vitunski's comment that some tracks would survive, to a chicken with its head cut off are quite different than your comment that racing won't be the same size without slot revenue as it is with.
In reply to As I said everyone has a by truckinted
It is because we have to
It is because we have to compete against them Mr decker. Do your homework before making comments. The United States has lots of racetracks with slots in them. They are called Racino's !
Another well written article
Another well written article with facts the voting population probably are not aware of. This is the type of information that needs to be made available to everyone in the province, not just those involved in the horse industry. To those within the industry I would like you to take a look at the product you have out there and realize many changes have to be made to make it more marketable. Gamblers will always gamble, but the people you need to bring to the track are those who want to go out for an enjoyable afternoon or evening with family or friends or colleagues. I know gamblers will argue there needs to be changes to make the product more attractive to them as well but those changes will come. You need to have the product more accessible. People love the walking rings at the thoroughbred tracks, people would love to have an observation room over the paddock, be part of the process, not just picking a number off a page because people you can do that at your local lottery retailer. Let them see the horses, the trainers, the groom and drivers. Take them through the paddock at regular intervals. While what the government did is wrong and needs to be amended, so does the product need to change. We keep taking ourselves farther from those we want to attract and putting more dead time between races. Take a look at the tracks where there are people on site and see how the people are up against the rail watching. The structure of some on the existing racetracks has made this impossible and you might as well watch and wager at home. I don't know who is working on the marketing end of the product, but this is equally if not more important in establishing the longevity of this wonderful historic sport in the province.
Mr. James, thank you for your
Mr. James, thank you for your leadership. I offer to share the cost with you on your next post. I am sure others would love to join but if not I will put up half the money. I have one condition-you write the letter. I have yet to see anyone do better. My email address appears below for you to contact me.
Also somebody put this in front of Hudak and Horwath.
Georg Leber-ICR Racing
[email protected]
Mr. James strikes again!
Mr. James strikes again! I've been saying all along that this is what had to of taken place because nothing else makes any sense whatsoever. I stated this in my complaint to the ombudsman and restated it when talking to their representative on the phone last week. There simply had to be a big payoff of some sort to the government from the casino owners to make it so worth their while to kill our very successful SAR program.
The other fly in the ointment is the association between Larry Tanenbaum and Paul Godfrey. How convenient that Tanenbaum had the wherewithall to go out and buy up those derelict bingo parlours well before the announcement came out in February about the "modernization" of gaming in Ontario. His close friend, Godfrey, at the OLG just might have had something to do that. The ombudsman's office was interested in that bit of information as well. All of us poor, dumb horsepeople know or have figured out a hell of a lot more about this than what we've been credit for and some of us are not afraid to speak up about it. Thank you again, Mr. James for being a large voice for the rest of our industry. I'm pretty sure many of us would gladly donate to your campaign to save our industry if you post an address.
Thank you again Mr. James.
Thank you again Mr. James. A very well researched and written article. So succinct and enlightening. I have forwarded this article as well to [email protected] Just keep praying they see fit to further investigate this corruption, and put an end to it. Your article has finally shed some light on the "Hidden Agenda" of this Government, we have all suspected from the get go. This Tuna smells alright, and the stench is rotten!
Perhaps Mr James should take
Perhaps Mr James should take an ad out outlining what he would do to make racing sustainable without the slot revenue. He must have a plan.
We all need to registar
We all need to registar complaints with the attorney general, the alcohol and gaming commission who governs OLG,the RCMP and all media everywhere of the mismmanagement and possible(and probable) corruption going on here. Ask your MPP to registar a complaint with the integrity commission. The more digging that goes on the more the lies will surface. Putting 60,000 jobs and billions in revenue at risk to line US investors pockets certainly should get someones attention.Also is their no one in Canada capeable of running a casino? Maybe its time for the federal government to get involved.
No one has or could be more
No one has or could be more critical of the Harness Racing Industry than I have been. That being said Mr. Nicol Mr. Nicolas, and Mr. Bush have it right in my view::)
Out of a job yet vote
Out of a job yet vote liberals.more jobs have left Ontario since this goverment has come to power.
Mr. James should get an
Mr. James should get an Obrien award this year for OUTSTANDING OWNER.
We need to get some type of
We need to get some type of investigation into this matter going. Email the ombudsman,the attorney general,the alcohol and gaming commission who govern the OLG, the RCMP and any and all media outlets, lets take it to the federal level if no provincial help is on the way.To me this sounds like treason. This is corrupt without a doubt and as soon as it is exposed the sh-t will hit the fan. This is racketeering plain and simple, Al Capone would be proud.
Yes, Thank You Mr.
Yes, Thank You Mr. James.....You saw this for what it is...corruption. This explains why the LIBERALS were so ADAMANT about this cash cow going the way of the dinosaurs. Liberals had better & bigger things to accomplish ! That explains also why they would not budge and inch or re-negotiate the SAR Program...the Liberals have a PROGRAM of their own.....shaft Ontarians and stick it to the other parties who DID NOT realize what was going on behind closed doors. And Ms Horwath is the bigger of the two suckers..she got took big time, and I sincerely hope she has the nerve to admit so sometime down the road. Now maybe a lawsuit is in order before this crap goes much farther...
In reply to Yes, Thank You Mr. by rnicolas
For a government that is cash
For a government that is cash strapped the OLG still have 2 casino's in Niagara Falls and 2 head offices ? Where is the opposition, in regards to these 2 Drummond report recomendations to shut one down.
A finance minister whom says that Ontarian's need to tighten their belts and yet a few days later in the Toronto Star wants to build a 4 Billion $ casino on the Toronto waterfront.
We have $ for billion $ casinos and enough to waste on losing casinos but none for programs that create jobs ?
Seems to be a lot of mixed messages with these Liberals.
Congratulations Mr. James!
Congratulations Mr. James! You sure do your homework. I*ll take a wild guess and say you were born in the dirty thirties as I was. Like my own teaching from my mother we were taught to respect law and order, respect our elders,every life was special and treated as such by all! The outright greed and coruption of our elected officials is rampant and the only ones speaking out are honest racehorse industry participants. Where on earth are the newspaper reporters. This sham could make Watergate look like a picnic. Talk about selling papers, they*re missing the boat! I make no bones about it people our age can walk away and not look back but I do care about our people top to bottom. I have spoken out at the last 2 OHHA meetings I*ve attended letting them all know some of us care deeply about this tragedy, and refer to them all as my brothers and sisters passionately. If only I had a magic wand to wave and make this go away! I watch Bill Moyers on PBS from Detroit and he has a bevy of guests who say every politician has been bought by big business in the U.S. 60 minutes usually agree. Do we want to see these U.S. high rollers do the same here. Everybody give your heads a shake and speak up before it*s too late! Last time I looked this is still a democracy?
The casinos did the same
The casinos did the same thing in Michigan. They never wanted to share the revenue with racing. They had their lawmakers draft legislation giving them exclusive access. And in the future if there was to be gaming expansion it had to be taken to the people for a vote. With their huge pockets how do you think that would work for racing? This didn't smell right from the beginning. Worse yet our newspapers and networks are incapable of doing any critical reporting outlining the governments subversive motivation at the expense of an entire industry. Its bascially hopeless given the anemic/pathetic response from the opposition parties.
Ontario will soon be like
Ontario will soon be like where I am from NW Indiana--where almost every billboard is for a casino! Driving thru there a couple weeks ago, I saw that I could win a new Corvette, a trip to Hawaii; $$$$ with Lucky 7s--? They pay for these 400 million dollar casinos like Four Winds by people losing their life savings--not by winning. I had a friend that was a security guard at the Empress & he told me all the time old ladies came up to him & said they had lost their houses, etc., but were still coming to the casino---after these ladies lose their homes who will keep them--the government!
Excellent article Mr.
Excellent article Mr. James.
It remains to be seen if the 2.5 billion payoff will materialize anytime soon. Also explains why GCG has been so tight lipped.
The NDP should be remembered for what they did and the Liberals should be forgotten for good after the next election.
Thank you Mr. James for
Thank you Mr. James for writing such an informative article. I've wondered why the Liberal Government would "kick" nearly 60,000 Canadians to the curb - and it is always about the money.
If Mr. James can figure this out, why not our leadership - does anyone really believe we are being truely represented, and if so, where are their articles in all of the major papers. We've had meetings and asked that a percentage be taken away from our purses to do what Mr. James has done on his own "dime".
Thank you Mr. James for both
Thank you Mr. James for both your insight and research pertaining to the SAR program. While everyone knew that the policy of closing the SAR program smelled of "rotten tuna", no one knew the true motive behind this action. Thanks to you, we now know. What everyone suspected, is that we are dealing with a Gov't more corrupt than we have ever had before in the history of Ontario and you have just proved that our suspicions were indeed correct. We do, however, still have an inherent problem of doing away with this gov't and re-electing an HONEST and ACCOUNTABLE gov't that will govern for ALL the people of Ontario..... not the gambling conglomerates in the US..... the question is how??? It is quite evident that Andrea Horwath and the NDP can't be trusted and are definitely "in bed" with the Liberals. Hudak of the PC's refuses to take a stand even though most of his party members have stated their positions in support of the SAR program. Therefore we are limited in terms of alternatives. Maybe it's our turn to start playing "dirty" politics and quite possibly, we should be enticing some of the Liberal MPP's to cross the floor if they wish to retain their seats in the Legislature in the next election or alternately resign completely. Just food for thought. Thank you again Mr. James.
This is a superb analysis of
This is a superb analysis of the situation in Ontario. He is DEAD ON with his thought process. The only problem is that the Conservatives and NDP could not see the Forest through the Trees. Now the Liberals will have all the " SLUSH MONEY" they need to buy votes for future elections. And not to mention that Most of the revenue will be going back to the U.S.!!
It's not just his belief,
It's not just his belief, it's the 100% truth. Wish we could convince the rest of the Province. Governments are really getting too corrupt. Something needs to happen.
It's about time somebody said
It's about time somebody said what many of us are thinking. That the cancellation of the Slots At Racetrack program is a decision of a corrupt Liberal government looking to line their own pockets with money from the Casino operators.
I don't necessarily agree with all of Mr. James reasoning in his article but I certainly agree with his central premise. Corruption, whether for the sake of personal or party gain, is the only angle that makes the cancellation of this program make any sense at all.
It's too bad that the media in this country don't seem prepared to follow this story in this direction.
The election, if ever called,
The election, if ever called, at Kitchener-Waterloo will be interesting if for some unexplained reason the Liberals do not elect a candidate. Elizabeth Witner must be rolling her eyes at the tenacity of the provincial Liberal party. Again I say, "do not underestimate the people of Ontario", last time I checked we still have a democracy here in Ontario. Be sure of one thing, whenever we do have another election the provincial Liberal party will be lucky to elect one candidate. Of all the conversations I have had not one person was uneducated about their situation or the scandals that have eminated as a result of the Queens Park debacles. WE have great media coverage, most of us have computers, or cell phones with all the gadgets. Do not underestimate how knowledgable the people of Ontario are. It will be the best voter turn out this province has seen in years. I hope I'm around to witness it. sincerely Bruce T. Winning PS. Great article Mr. James.
One word decribes Mr James
One word decribes Mr James and his comments - Brilliant!
In reply to One word decribes Mr James by murray
I agree with Mr Brown,& his
I agree with Mr Brown,& his comments, who by the way is well versed and one of the most successful business horse related brains in our industry. BTW Murray just got married so congratz is in order.