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After comments from Liberal MPP Liz Sandals published in the Guelph Tribune raised the ire of the horse racing industry, the man who could be running against her in the next election has issued a letter in reply and expanded on his letter in a Trot Radio exclusive.
Sandals' comments downplayed the move by the OLG to end the slots-at-racetracks program, stating the partnership was “not an indefinite deal,” and was only meant to be a transitional measure.
According to The Tribune, Sandals pinned the blame on the industry and came off saying that because horse racing didn't come up with a transitional plan, the program was ending and not going to be renewed.
“Are we going to cut a new five-year deal? The answer is no,” she said.
Sandals went on to say that the impact of ending the slots-at-racetracks program has been exaggerated by the horse racing industry.
“The vast majority of horses in Ontario are not race horses,” she said, “Wellington County has a larger than usual racehorse population. But even in Wellington County, the majority are not racehorses.”
To provide some facts on the issue, Anthony MacDonald issued the following letter to the editor of the Guelph Tribune on Friday.
Liz Sandals misses the mark with her comments in Thursday's Tribune. As a horseman and one of her constituents, I am disappointed that she would deliberately mislead the community on something that has such a devastating impact on so many of her constituents.
Let's be clear on the facts Ms. Sandals. Horse racing in Ontario has never been subsidized - it was a partnership agreement initiated by the province to establish gambling venues at the existing racetrack facilities. Profits are split between the province (75%); the local communities (5%); the horse industry (10%) and the track operators (10%). The Ontario government gets over a billion dollars from this arrangement. With a skyrocketing debt and deficit, a program that MAKES money for the provincial government should continue.
Rather than making the horse industry the scapegoat, Ms. Sandals should explain to her constituents how her government's mismanagement of the public purse has seen billions lost in the Ornge air ambulance fiasco, the mismanagement of tele-health and the incomprehensible relocation of a gas plant - just to name a few recent Liberal misadventures. Aren't those mis-spent funds "supposed to go to public services like health and education"? When Ms. Sandals is pondering sustainability - I suggest she look at the poor management and gross over-spending of her own party as a prime example of what is not sustainable.
Ontario is home to 27,000 active race horses owned by some 12,000 people - this short-sighted decision by the Liberal government will have disastrous consequences for their families, their horses, the people they employ and the businesses they support. Horse people pay taxes, hire staff, buy trucks, trailers, feed, equipment and diesel right here in "RURAL ONTARIO".
Ms. Sandals, your government has dug a $16-billion hole and is trying to fill it with the blood, sweat and tears of hard-working Ontario citizens. I find it astonishing that an elected representative stands behind a decision that kills jobs, cuts government income and devastates an industry. I fear our province is in great jeopardy.
Anthony MacDonald
In a special two-part interview, MacDonald goes one-on-one with Trot Radio's Norm Borg on this letter and more. Click the play buttons below to listen.
Episode 270– Anthony MacDonald
Audio Format: MP3 audio
Host: Norm Borg
Ok lets assume that as has
Ok lets assume that as has been stated and published in this forumn multiple times that all politicians are "cheats and liars", whom do we rely on??
If the Liberal Government is
If the Liberal Government is going to continue to refer to "subsidzing horseracing" then I think they should be sent a bill for the rent for their use of the race track facilities. You can't have it both ways. I am so disappointed with the NDP government stance on not voting on the government. It's like they just didn't show up for work that day. I guess the PC are the only hope but Tim Hudak needs to put a stong plan into play. He has to get off the fence and come up with a good plan that he can deliver.
Yes well said Anthony!!! Ms.
Yes well said Anthony!!! Ms. Sandals fits right in with Dwight Duncan and Dalton McGinty. Not one of them knows a damn thing about horseracing. These liberals need to be ousted and the sooner the better. They have done nothing but damage Ontario almost to the point of no return. It will be to no return if they continue to run the province!!!!
In response to Georg Lebers
In response to Georg Lebers comments Elizabeth Witmer is one of the most capable former Tory MPP's this Province has ever had. She was a great Minister of Education, Environment and later a great Minister of Health and Long-Term Care in the Harris/ Eve's government. Her appointment to the WSIB is well deserved and well earned. She is extremely educated and was a force in the house.
Ms. Sandals is also a decorated MPP and is well respected at Queen's Park. I don't agree with her comments but Anthony is going to have to make sure he is right on the mark to beat her in a riding she has held since 2003. A good start for Anthony would be to make sure he is well aware of the issues facing the Province and tele health was actually a great success in this Province. I believe Anthony was alluding to eHealth. I wish Anthony much luck but I would encourage this industry to do their homework with regards to which political party to support.
To Liz Sandals: Enjoy your
To Liz Sandals: Enjoy your limited time at Queens Park, it is your last. You will not be elected the next time we have an election. Bruce T. Winning
Unfortunately, 99% of
Unfortunately, 99% of Ontarians don't really care about horse racing. It's not that they are against it, they can live with it, or they can live without it. I believe most people don't pay all that much attention when they read or hear about the current situation. In my opinion, when mentioning all the positives that have come from the slots program, also mention what the alternative is going to be. That billionare Liberal buddy Larry Tanenbaum and American owned Las Vegas casinos will now receive the share that 50,000 Ontario residents used to get. Maybe then, whether they like horse racing or not, the average Joe will understand the impact this will have on the province of Ontario.
It doesn't really matter what
It doesn't really matter what Anthony said. Sandals had the original forum. That's what the public hears. The fact this is the rhetoric still coming from the Liberals is both shocking and indicative of their attitude. I am not too optimistic about any forthcoming announcements by this government vis a vis Racing, whether from the OMAFRA Panel or otherwise.
Have I missed Hudak saying
Have I missed Hudak saying that he'll keep the SAR agreement in place? Last time I checked he made no such promise, refused to say anything other than that the slots should be privatized. Expectations shouldn't be raised, too painful in the end...
Be careful Anthony.In
Be careful Anthony.In politics you can make a lot of enemies as well as friends.As I said in the beginning it could take a toll on you and your family .For every one contestant there are nine others in the race who want to beat you!I The position the three stooges have taken against us is nothing but arrogance and Liz Sandals fits right in with the rest of them...I said I would help financially and I will, and IF I CAN'T WIN I DON'T WANT TO RACE?????tom
Extremely well said Anth. The
Extremely well said Anth. The best of luck to you. Finally a voice of reason
Great job Anthony!! Even
Great job Anthony!! Even though we have met on a only few occasions, I feel you have the self confidence as well as being well versed to state our case. Let alone the well being of our fellow resident Ontarions. Go get 'em.
Regards, Bill
Way to go Anthony! Good
Way to go Anthony! Good comeback.
Just a note. Ms. Sandals says that the SAR was brought in because the racing industry was struggling. Seems to me it was a struggling provincial government under Bill Harris that had the good sense to take their money-making slots to the racetracks when the citizens of Ontario denied them access to their neighborhoods. The tracks were gracious enough to take them in exchange for a partnership that saw the government taking 75% of the slots revenue each year. The racing industry was to receive 20% for track management and purses while each hosting community received the remaining 5%. It was a win/win situation for everyone concerned and the spinoffs other industries and businesses (predominantly rural and agricultural) has been tremendous. Why can't this government get some sense through their thick heads?
As for her comments about the exaggerated impact that the loss of horseracing will have on the economy, she is so offbase. Expenses such as breeding fees, licensing, staking, feeding and vetting high performance horses, farrier work done twice a often as most horses, transportation (sometimes every day of the week)throughout the year rather than just during the summer "show season", etc. simply doesn't compare to what the other breeds generate. These people haven't a clue even with all of the reports that have been presented to them with factual information. They have their heads stuck --- well we all know where.
An astute friend's take on their persistent mantra--"Dalton is inferring that it had to be either horse racing OR education, health care, infrastructure, etc.
This begs the question: if revenues from SAR HAVEN'T been going to education, health, infrastructure, etc. then what have Dalton and his thug Dwight been doing with it??"
I also wrote a reply to the
I also wrote a reply to the Guelph Tribune in regards to Liz Sandals attack on our Industry. Is it to much to ask of OUR MPP to view a 6 minute video produced by the concerned leaders of Wellington County expressing their concerns for the future of the Racing Industry and the effects that cancelling SAR will have on RURAL Ontario?
I think that Duncan & McQuinty run their Party much like they run the country. Do as I say or you are gone. It is about time that the members of their party start to do what is right for Ontario & not what they are told to do. You are so correct when you said that the government is elected by us & therefore should work for us or at least with us.
Well said Anthony Macdonald
Well said Anthony Macdonald agree with you 110% i love the way you put in part two that were working for the government and that were all people no matter where we come from or what party were in. If im 18 by the time the next election comes upon us. you have my vote.
-Dean Bell
Way to go Anthony --- too bad
Way to go Anthony --- too bad a public forum in a central location can't be set up, and let her explain away the points you make in your rebuttal! Invite also, the Conservative candidate for Kitchener-Waterloo. Make the point to everyone also, that this Liberal Government's misleading comments "$345 million is better spent on all day kindergarten than subsidizing horse racing" subsidy or not, when they cancel the Slots-at-Racetracks program, there is no $345 million. It goes down the drain along with the 1.1 billion annual revenue the Government gets from the Slots-at-Racetracks program. Now, ask the Liberal MPP, to explain how they intend to replace the 2 billion dollars annually in lost revenue from SAR in order to reduce the deficit???? They still haven't explained that one to the voters of Ontario. To those who think it won't affect them because they are not involved in horse racing, I say, when this Government has to either, CUT PROGRAMS, or INCREASE TAXES, in order to not let the deficit balloon out of control as it has been regularly doing due to their fiscal mismanagement, ask themselves, WHO DOES IT AFFECT NOW???? Once the public realizes that whether or not they own a racehorse, go to the races, watch the races on TV, or just read about them now and then in the papers, THEY ARE VERY MUCH AFFECTED BY THIS LUDICROUS DECISION AND WILL BE PAYING FOR IT FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS IF THIS GOVERNMENT IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE ON THIS DESTRUCTIVE PATH!!!!
Where do we send our contributions to support the Kitchener-Waterloo and Vaughan Campaigns???? McGuinty has very cleverly and secretively kept the date of the bi-elections quiet so as to allow the Liberals adequate time to prepare for their mud-slinging, underhanded lying campaign, so we need to all pitch in however we can to support the Opposition's campaigns in these bi-elections, and I don't mean supporting the Fence Sitting, abstaining NDP! We need representation with some intestinal fortitude, not McGuinty sheep disquised in orange!
In reply to Way to go Anthony --- too bad by C. Rae
Carolyn: Where are the
Carolyn: Where are the OBUNDSMAN and ATTORNEY GENERAL IN ALL THIS? WHY IS THE NDP AND PC LEADER NOT SPEAKING UP! WHY IS GODFREY AND TANNENBALM SILENT? Why don't we get a lawyer to stand up for us? IF YOU RECALL THEIR WERE OBJECTIONS TO FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF A BUISINESS IN CANADA LIMITED TO FORTY SEVEN PERCENT but now THE ONTARIO LIBERAL GOVT. Is saying a BINGO PARLOUR or SLOT PARLOUR CANN BE 100 PERCENT OWNED? Why is the law so one sided ? The chairman of the OLG makes a lot of money right? HOW can he reward his friends withe the help of government and at the same time put 55,000+ horsemen and women out of work? Where are all the lawyers out there , can you not see this ? Legalized corruption ...Tom Kelly...ps unless you stand together your done...
Well said, Anthony. How can
Well said, Anthony. How can I be of help to you in your campaign?
John Patterson
This Liz Sandals is quite a
This Liz Sandals is quite a character. Vote her out fast. Period.
No question we are behind
No question we are behind Anthony all the way.
Another important issue that should be hammered home in his campaign is that the only reason that this by-election is taking place is that the Liberals are trying to steal a seat by giving the former Elected Conservative a ridiculously high paying job for which she is not remotely qualified. Of course Anthony can't say it that way but he can infer that the Premier gave her the job (he was directly involved)even though they both know that she promised the voters she would represent them for a full term and not take the best offer that came her way. This tactic was to gain a majority and for no other reason.
Anthony has his hands full. I am sure that they are going to come at him with both barrels and try to make him look bad. He is very capable on and off the track but he is not used to playing the political games that our elected officials practice daily.
He is indeed Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. You younger people would not have seen the movie starring Jimmy Stewart. He was an honest first time politician that went to Washington, only to find they are liars and cheats and do anything to discredit an honest man.
Go get em Anthony
Georg Leber-ICR Racing