You are quite right, Maury. The handle takeout is only part of the government's non-slot revenue. The rest comes from taxes on the racing and breeding industry. The 261 million is still a very valid number,with the Feds actually taking another 382 million.I think my point that returning a portion of this revenue to the industry would be a smart move for both levels of government.It was a careless mistake on my part and I thank you for pointing it out.

Hurray for you for seeing through this scam!! The NDP were oh so sympathetic in the beginning and as far as I'm concerned both the NDP and the Liberals are one and the same, they will say whatever they think you want to hear!

Before we give Natyshak any congratulations, I want to know where he and his NDP party were on the budget vote. The NDP were saving their own bacon and jobs because they could not run a campaign in a new election with a $3 million dollar deficit in their own party.

So thanks but no thanks to Natyshak. In fact sit down until you and your party have the guts to vote against the Liberals. Until then it is posturing and posing in the worst degree AND YOU SICKEN ME.

This goes for all the NDP who let us down and should be removed from office by the voters next time around along with the liberals.

Georg Leber-ICR Racing

Michael, the government doesn't get very much of the takeout at all. I believe it is only 1.3% of all wagers (.8% goes to Federal government and .5% goes to Provincial government).

The Minister of Agriculture has no doubt been told by McGuinty to defer any questions to Duncan and not to get involved. So much for officials elected to represent their constituents! Just another empty suit that needs to be kicked out by the electorate as soon as Ontario can get an election. What's happened to our big supporter Andrea Horwath since she told her elected fellow NDP members not to vote against the budget?? Some government!!!!!! They have to go! Jobs, jobs, jobs, it's all BS!!

I am surprised that the Minister of Agriculture is so low key throughout all this.Does he realize how much hay will not be consumed,how many acres of grain will now not be required,how many tractors and farm implements will not be sold,how many acres of prime agricultural land will become worthless (we only need so many soybeans and sunflowers)and how many agricultural related workers will become unemployed.What on earth is he thinking?

Nice that Mr Natyshak is saying this now but did he vote against the budget that will cause all of this damage and stop it when he could make a difference? Or did he sit back with the rest of the NDP and simply let it pass? Whatever the NDP says now is so much hot air to blow around with the Liberal lies and misinformation.

It's fine and dandy that an NDP MPP is standing up for the horsemen but where were they when this budget could have been stopped in the first place? Actions speak louder than words. A protest by locking the doors of the slots on a Friday or Saturday at all the tracks would probably wake up the liberals. Any other kind of protest is pointless to me.

michael smith
It seems Mr. Duncan has a fixation on the word "subsidy".So be it. Perhaps a solution to this mess would be for the government to rebate 175 million of the 261 million dollar subsidy the government receives from the takeout of the track handles.The horsemen would be self supporting, the government could keep its slots money and still have about 90 million left over to waste on whatever it wants.Using Mr. Duncan's own logic we all know this money is a subsidy because -I say so. So there.

The question that needs to be answered is if the NDP are so concerned about the horse racing industry why did they sell us out and support the budget?

It is very understandable that everyone is angry at McGuinty and Duncan's high handedness and disregard of our Industry. My suggestion is for the OHHA, OHRIA,and the Ontario Breeders Association to launch a Class Action Law Suit for Punitive Damages, perhaps with expert legal advice and discussions, we could bring this Action before the Supreme Court of Canada. Because of their blatent disregard of our rites, I think a starting figure of $500 Billion should get their attention as well as the Media's. This is the route I believe we should take.

Too bad the NDP didn't do much talking when it came to voting on the budget.

It will be easy to tell who the lobbyist got to at such an early stage of the game...just listen to the comments from Toronto's city council. Waterfront land should be reserved for wetlands and greenspaces for the "people". Preservation of such should be on an environmental radar, especailly rare access within city limits. If the possibility of the waterfront "intergrated casinos" is taken off the table, MGM or any other foreign investors of the like, will be forced to deal with existing gaming/racetrack locations by default IF they are interested in pursuing business in Ontario. Toronto will now await impact studies listing the pros and cons of such a project. Obviously the pros will be the income generated for the city but are we willing to sacrifice an entire industry at the expense of a shiny beacon foreign investment on the waterfront? This is a one shot deal to make the rich, richer. What about the livelihoods of 60,000 hard working, everyday people. I think we as an industry have a VALUE far greater then any waterfront development or backroom deal.

well isn't that great that Mr Natyshak has an opinion now, where was he when his boss had the opportunity to throw Dalton out on the street, that's why the NDP will never be in power because they had the power and didn't know what to do with it.

Where was he when they were voting on the budget,where were all the ndp?

Again just smoke from politician!!!!! If his party was soooooo upset with the liberal why did they vote FOR the budget (without having this issue resolve)...Voting against the budget would of been a savior for our racing industry.

Yet another joker who wants votes for the next election! will we ever found a politician that is ready to work with the people and for the people without an hidden agenda????? That is the question!!!!

I noticed on the web cast that Mr.Natyshak question was for Ted McMeekin agriculture min. and he passed the hat to Duncan who still refers to our purse share as a subsidy.

Seems to me Mr. Natyshak and the NDP had a chance to do more than simply demand consultation recently. They turtled, when it came time to defeat the budget, now this?
So hypocritical! Just playing horsepeople and their problems for the next election.

There is something very - VERY - dirty going on here. I 've never seen a Canadian politician act with such desparate and vile hatred and disdain for 'working people' in Canada.

These guys are going to RAM HUGE - AMERICAN CASINO(s) down our throats ... and I will give 50-1 ODDS that MacGinty, Duncan and Godfrey and others have BEEN BOUGHT. They are SELLING ONTARIO (and a healthy profitable program) to AMERICAN INTERESTS!!! This is NOT an issue for Horse Racing - IT'S AN ISSUE FOR EVERY HUMAN BEING IN ONTARIO!

AT LEAST THE QUEBEC STUDENTS STAND UP AND GET SOME ACTION!!

I would like to put forward and idea to anyone who is able to make use if it. The equine show Cavalia is hosting thousands of horse lovers over the next couple of weeks. VIP ticket holders will be given dinner in a lounge and visiting backstage. If the management could be convinced to put pamphlets in the programs or posters in the lounge it would reach a wide segment of the public some of whom could be quite influential. Their head office is in Montreal 1-866-989-2282. I was unable to find an email address. Perhaps some transplanted Quebec horse people would know how best to approach them. I have sent this idea to OHRIA but wanted to present it here as well. http://www.cavalia.net/en/contact-us

It's all well and good to jump up and down and holler now during Question Period, but where was this MPP and the rest of his NDP cronies when they were needed to defeat this budget and actually STOP THIS GOVERNMENT??? HIDING BEHIND ANDREA HORWATH'S SHIRT TAILS, SITTING ON THE FENCE, SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO MAKE A PUBLIC DECISION!!

IS THIS MPP WILLING TO CROSS THE FLOOR, LEAVE THE NDP AND JOIN THE OPPOSITION OR SIT AS AN INDEPENDENT TO PUBLICLY SHOW HIS SUPPORT FOR THE HORSE RACING INDUSTRY? ARE THERE ANY OTHERS WILLING TO DO THE SAME?? OR IS ALL THIS MORE GRANDSTANDING FOR PUBLICITY, AS IT WAS WITH ANDREA HORWATH!

LET'S NOT FORGET THIS BS WHEN THE NEXT ELECTION DOES COME! Unfortunately, with the NDP jumping into bed with the Liberals, it looks like that won't be for 3 more years.

We need to make sure that as many as possible can hang on for at least that long, since Andrea Horwath made it quite clear the Horse Racing Industry is on it's own as far as her NDP party is concerned. She made it absolutely clear that she is not willing to jeopardize her political career, or that of her NDP MPPs by supporting the livelihoods of 60,000+ rural Ontarians!

IRONICALLY, IF RURAL ONTARIO REMEMBERS...... SHE MAY HAVE VERY WELL ALREADY DONE THAT!

EVERYONE IS LISTENING nobody is doing anything. This guy has been in front of every camera and reporter since day one ..... There is only one option and that is to change the govt. They the NDP and Mr Natyshak had that option. What prevailed was a break down of peoples democratic rights they ABSTAINED not only did they ABSTAIN they did back door deals with the govt to keep them in power. Notice no deal with the horse industry ....... The time for jumping in front of cameras and making speaches in parliment is only furthering the pain Mr Natyshak is it to late for action?

Congradulation Mr.Natyshak, finally someone is standing up for horse racing industry. 60,000 jobs across Ontario are at risk if they put an end at this partnership program with racetracks. Over 45000 horses are at risk to be sent to slaughterhouse.

NDP and PC stand up together and vote down this Liberal Party, ask for Mr, Duncan's resignation after his comments he made last week to the Investor Mr, Thomson (Winbak Farm) Comments innaceptable for the economy of Ontario and horse racing industry. This Mr, Duncan always lie to the population when he mentionned subsidies and always denied about the 60000 jobs (more than one report prove that the number are real). Drummond report confirm to us that they never ask Mr, Duncan for closing the program slots/racetracks, but proposed to revitalize the program...... not the same thing at all.
We are in Canada, Ontario and we do not want to be dictate like in a communist country.
Sit with the horse racing industry to find better way and OLG - Goverment should respect their contract between OLG/racetracks who is supposed to end in 2015.
Ontario Province cannot afford to lose billions of dollars and 60000 jobs related to agricultural sector.
Go for election, this liberal party is getting more ridiculous day after day.
Mr. Natyshak please rally all your MPPs and fight for horse racing industry. We need your support.

Here we go, the proverbial closing the barn door after the horse got out. The NDP had the chance at the budget vote. What did they do? Nothing, sat on their hands and abstained.

They knew then, and they know now this was a bad budget from all angles. They said the province could ill afford an election. The province can less afford a bad government.

Smoke and mirrors.

Sandy Best

Finally someone is listening.

Imagine the uproar in the state of Kentucky if the government there put the Kentucky Derby in jeopardy,yet Dalton and Godfrey are doing just that to the oldest stakes race in North America the Queens Plate, maybe it will be moved to Hastings Park in Vancouver.

I watched and listened to Mr. Natyshak in the Legislature today as well as yesterday where there were many MPP'S speaking passionately about this industries plight in discussion period.

Today when responding to Mr.Natyshak, Duncan said that he met with OHRIA last night but after listening to his comments, there is no doubt nothing has changed from his end. He NEEDS to be REMOVED from office!!

As well The Minister of Agriculture passed the buck to Duncan when questioned today. He should resign immediately!!

You can watch the video here
http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/go2.jsp?locale=en&Page=/webcast/webcast_arch…

Click on May 15 to watch and then scroll to 43.47 when Mr. Natyshak begins.

Gary Blackburn