“The question mark is what is it that can be facilitated in the future? The contract that exists with Casino New Brunswick and the government is always subject to amendment if Casino New Brunswick is willing to partake in harness racing

. I think it only will enhance their opportunities in the province and will create more employment in Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton."

Mike Murphy, once New Brunswick's justice minister and attorney general, has now thrown his hat back into the political ring. On today's Trot Radio, host Norm Borg goes one-on-one with the Moncton lawyer who is as familiar with a harness and a pedigree as he is a legal precdent. Murphy will run for the province's Liberal leadership, steadfastly confident that he's the right choice to guide a province that he feels has been short-changed by the federal government.

"I think it's high time that New Brunswick got its deal with the federal government," stated Murphy. "Nova Scotia has a $25 billion deal, Ontario has the Auto Pact, Quebec has federal-provincial agreements, Newfoundland has guarantees in the Atlantic Accord and, quite frankly, New Brunswick has absolutely nothing. So I'd like to see federal participation in a deal that enhances our opportunity at free post-secondary education, immigration, and some tax-free zones for the depressed areas in northern New Brunswick. We've been left by the wayside and it's time that our relationship with the federal government changed in a very substantial way."

While many see slots and VLTs at racetracks as the answer for sustaining racing, Murphy notes that the province's gaming landscape could strengthen with possible partnerships with the tracks and the existing casino in Moncton.

"Harness racing in New Brunswick once comprised hundreds of part-time jobs and many, many dozens of full-time jobs. It has gone downhill steadily in the last 20 years and certainly in the last few years. We don't necessarily now have to put any government money at all into harness racing. But what we can do is by our availability of regulations, we can certainly enhance the opportunities for harness racing."

Murphy went on to suggest that harness racing should negotiate a deal with Casino New Brunswick, and that would be a win-win as the casino owners would then broaden their span and reach as a supporter of agriculture.

"Casino New Brunswick may very well be encouraged by a lot of the players in New Brunswick to embrace Saint John and embrace Moncton and Fredericton. There's 150 video lottery machines that are available to those racetracks, perhaps some type of arrangement can be made so that their own infrastructure and facilities can be enhanced and people can begin to work in the industry again."

To hear the full interview with Murphy and Borg, click the Play button below.

Episode 249 – Mike Murphy

Audio Format: MP3 audio

Host: Norm Borg

Please note that the opinions expressed in the featured interview are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect Rideau Carleton Raceway and/or Standardbred Canada.