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
.
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
I have no idea how we go
I have no idea how we go about it, but I believe we (OHRIA) need to get an injunction NOW, against the government and/or OLG to stop any further tampering with the slots-at-racetracks program, until such time as all the studies and justifications for their actions are made public and there is a real discussion with horsepeople.
No one in their right minds would pay three racetracks to shut down their slots and replace them with nothing. No one in their right mind would ruin a billion dollar plus revenue generator, replacing it with nothing. No one in their right mind would throw 500 OLG employees out of work, and potentially 60,000 more tied to the horse industry, when their mantra has been "job creation". There are already 600,000 unemployed people in this province and maybe that is partially why the gambling revenues are dropping in Ontario.
We need to follow the money trail and see where it goes, because something besides McGuinty and Duncan smells here.
This Ontario government is supposed to be "for the people", and the last time I looked, we horsepeople were "people" and pay a lot of taxes to this government.
The OLG report that I posted
The OLG report that I posted on April 28th states several times that the slots are not a destination of those under 45 years of age. That leaves a very large number of patrons who do frequent the slots and, according to some, prefer to do it locally rather than driving to distant casinos. This report doesn't seem to take into account the fact that the "under 45s" will grow into the older age groups that like to retire to the smaller towns where life is slower, easier and less expensive. They still like their entertainment though and the slots at the racetracks are one of their favorites.
http://www.trra.ca/en/reports/OntGenDemo.asp
What you need to do is take
What you need to do is take him on a field trip to show him what really goes on in the horse industry. Give him a little crash course called horse racing 101. This is a big business people just fail to realize it. The only thing as horsemen we can really do is every chance we get is try to educate people the importance of this industry and that we are not the ones who are taking from the taxpayers it's the government who is taking from us.
In reply to What you need to do is take by Robbie Robinson
I live in Michigan and used
I live in Michigan and used to race horses. We had a governor here who fought the horse racing industry on every thing that they wanted to do...simulcasting, slots, as it turned out after he left office there was a lobbyist indicted in Washington who was caught buying the votes of politicians with money from the chippewa indian casino located here in Michigan. So look very closely at the American casinos who are said to be wanting to build the big casinos in Toronto and Ottawa and follow the money and see how much of has influenced the decision to take away the slots at racetracks.
Don't hold your breath. This
Don't hold your breath. This looks very daunting.
http://www.olg.ca/assets/documents/media/strategic_business_review2012…
It would appear that this has been in the works for a few years. They just didn't let us poor saps know about their plans to destroy us.
Not likely to happen.
Not likely to happen. According to yesterday's Hansard transcripts, Duncan is already denying there was any such agreement made with the NDP. He also pointed out that the decisions to make changes to the land based gaming strategy were discussed "extensively" with the horse racing industry. Somebody is not telling the truth.
Thank you Sue Leslie and
Thank you Sue Leslie and OHRIA. Your tireless efforts to preserve horse racing in Ontario will not be forgotten. Let us hope that this gov't can come to its senses and finally realize the benefits that horse racing provides to the economy in rural Ontario, to the coffers of the Provincial and Municipal governments and to all its participants.
I agree with Mr. Smith,
I agree with Mr. Smith, there seem to be shady deals going on here.
Just today, Mr. Duncan stood up and claimed how "most" of the "subsidy" was going to American horsemen. Most? In contrast to what they invest in horseracing in Ontario? Laughable. Americans have probably invested a good deal more IN Ontario by way of training, board, stud fees, yearling purchases, and all the tens of thousand they pay in fuel, feed, vet bills, farrier services, and taxes, than they have taken out.
Duncan has also claimed that there are not 60,000 jobs in jeopardy: if there are only HALF those jobs, that is still 30,000 who will be looking for jobs. His scaled down view of racing will still put many people on the dole at a time when those on social assitance are already living below the poverty line and the latest fudget has given them only a 1% increase.
Now is not the time to throw up our hands and give up, but to let OHRIA continue to press on. We need to get behind Ms. Leslie now with our full support, and keep writing, calling, e-mailing and educating the Ontario public.
Question I have is OLGA is
Question I have is OLGA is pulling slots effective March 31, 2013 yet they do not have any infrastructure in place to replace that revenue how does the Ontario Government reconcile the lost revenue until the new Casinos are built and operational?????? Ken Walker
I would like to know where
I would like to know where Duncan is getting his information from. When he was questioned in the Legislative Assembly today regarding the slots program, not only did he continue to use the word subsidy, but now he's stating that all the subsidised money is leaving the province of Ontario. Where does he get all this from???!!!!
Oh to be a fly on the wall
Oh to be a fly on the wall in that room!- take no prisoners folks- Double D needs a dressing down big time.
Maybe having REAL HORSE in the room can bring DD to his sneses.
Keep up the good fight Sue
speak softly and carry a big
speak softly
and carry a big stick
Hope things go well.
Hope things go well. However I still think that drastic action needs to be taken by the horsemen. Better to be proactive rather than reactive.Ken
michael smith Despite the
michael smith
Despite the Liberals' secretiveness and duplicity so far,this is very good news. They obviously have had major discussions with an unknown third party that has sold them a real bill of goods about casinos and the untold riches they will provide. Was it Paul Godfrey? MGM? Wile E Coyote? We'll likely never know. Best of luck and a sincere thank you to Sue and OHRIA for your tireless and unending efforts to save a wonderful sport and industry.
Sue Leslie; I have 2 words
Sue Leslie;
I have 2 words to the wise on meeting with mister duncan... Caveat Absurdo!
OHRIA needs to get Hec
OHRIA needs to get Hec Clouthier onboard in a meeting with the Liberals. He was an MP for the Liberals and past leader of OHRIA. Seems like he would know both sides wants and needs. yours truly, Al Casselman
He will sit you now cause
He will sit you now cause Horwath has allowed him to take the velvet off the hammer.