Report Presented, Racing Waits

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Published: August 21, 2012 09:21 am EDT

The horse racing industry is waiting anxiously for the OMAFRA panel report, presented to government on Friday, August 17. People in racing aren't the only ones wondering why the findings have yet to be made public.

"There is growing dissension in the Liberal caucus on [the slots-at-racetracks] issue," said Ontario PC Economic Development and Innovation Critic, Monte McNaughton in a Monday release. "Seven Liberal MPP’s have publically opposed the McGuinty government’s decision to end the Slots at Racetracks program. [Jeff] Leal’s recommendations are a public acknowledgement of how damaging this decision will be to the horseracing industry and Ontario’s economy.

"The transitional panel’s interim report regarding the future of horse racing in Ontario was presented to the Minister of Agriculture last Friday. To date, we have heard nothing about the report or its contents. Thousands of jobs are at risk. The report must be made available to the public immediately,” said McNaughton.

In an interview with the Flamborough Review, OMAFRA panel member John Snobelen gave comments on the report that involved consultation with over 500 industry stakeholders.

“I think there is more work to do," stated Snobelen, who noted three major overriding concerns: the future of racing with the slots-at-racetracks partnership, the livelihood of the participants and the welfare of the horses.

“To the best of our ability, we have reflected some of the things (in our report) that have been told to us,” said Snobelen.

According to Snobelen, the panel will consult future with government.

“Any recommendations that we would have would be recommendations for the minister to direct the panel further,” said Snobelen. “People in the horse racing industry should be proud of the representation of their interest to the panel. These are difficult issues and tough problems, but they’ve been very responsive.”

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