Two Views, One Off-Track Premier
"The Premier was poorly advised on this and has to find a way to gracefully change his mind or he’ll decimate an industry. Does he want to be known as the Premier who killed horse racing in Ontario and put thousands out of work? Not much of a legacy is it?"
Radio co-hosts Carol and Paul Mott have made the cancelled Slots At Racetracks Program the subject of their monthly column for The Regional and Country Routes and have not held back their thoughts on Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty's decision of "putting politics ahead of people." The column appears below in its entirety.
The Motts can be heard weekdays from 11 until noon at themotts.ca, on Caledon Radio 102.7FM, Bolton Radio 105.5FM, Erin Radio 88.1FM, and Stouffville Radio 102.7FM. “Motts Weekend” is heard on 610 CKTB in St. Catharines and CKNX in Wingham.
By: Paul Mott
If the Province of Ontario is floating in a sea of red ink, then why would it kill a money-maker...a program that makes Queens Park $1-billion plus a year?
The answer is simple...politics!
In his report to Premier Dalton McGuinty and company, noted economist Don Drummond made no fewer than 365 recommendations. With a $15.2-billion deficit and a debt estimated at $237-billion, drastic cuts in spending had to be made to stop the bleeding.
“Premier Dad” had no choice...he had to go to the axe.
The problem was, where to cut and how deep...how to do what he had to do, limit the pain, and more importantly, the political damage. (What? Me? Cynical?)
Adopting all of Drummond’s recommendations was never an option...sure-fired political suicide.
So, our fearless leader fiddled a bit with health and education, (nothing too drastic, like cutting the ESSENTIAL (sarcasm) all-day kindergarten program) threatened a wage freeze for those on the public payroll, (if they didn’t accept it voluntarily)...and launched a plan to expand gambling!
More casinos, lottery outlets and on-line betting, will, in time, have us back in the black!
But wait a minute! If His Premiership is counting so much on gambling to re-stuff the people’s coffers (we can debate the moral issue another time, “a tax on the poor”, etc.)...why would he pull the plug on the ‘Slots for Racetracks’ program? It’s a ‘profit sharing’ deal (5% to municipalities, 20% for the horse industry, and 75% to the province) reached moons ago between the tracks and Harris team. It’s been so successful it’s become a model for other lottery corporations throughout North America!
There’s little doubt in my mind, and that of many, McGuinty’s playing to his “urban base”...his primary source of voter support.
Cutting, what his gang refers to as a “subsidy”, doled out to the “well-to-do horsey set”, no doubt plays well with the hurting inhabitants of our concrete jungles...but it may well kill a thriving and vital industry in rural Ontario, putting tens of thousands out of work. And they ain’t the moneyed folk!
The Premier is putting politics ahead of people... and to those out here in the boonies, now resembles a common sight.
A horse’s ass!
By: Carol Mott
I’m not sure I’d call the Premier of the Province a horse’s ass, even if I thought he was one, but, that’s why Paul often gets the reaction he does!
In most debates that we have I can see both sides of an issue. On this one, there isn't another side.
Over the past few weeks I've had the opportunity to address a rally on the Slots at Racetracks issue and I was the host for a town hall teleconference where thousands of Ontarians joined us to discuss the issue.
From the moment the provincial government announced that they were going to cancel this program shock waves have been rippling through the horse racing industry.
Horse racing in Ontario is a vibrant and exciting passion for some, business for others, and what puts the roof over the heads of many, many Ontarians and they aren’t “rich horse owners.” The government would like you to believe they are because why would you want to pad some rich persons bank account?
I know about this because I happen to be a race horse owner. We are one of the many little guys. Last year our horse, Maximum Ride won her first race. It was incredibly exciting! She won a little money which means she’s back at the track again with all those hopes and dreams. There is a trainer employed, hot walker, groom, exercise rider, soon a jockey and the benefits ripple throughout the province.
The Premier was poorly advised on this and has to find a way to gracefully change his mind or he’ll decimate an industry. Does he want to be known as the Premier who killed horse racing in Ontario and put thousands out of work? Not much of a legacy is it?
Please note that the opinions expressed in the featured columns are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect Standardbred Canada.
I hope there is a lot more
I hope there is a lot more of this stuff making it to mainstream media. There is no doubt that the little man Duncan who speaks tough will lose his seat in the next election; I believe the Ag minister will be back in a book store as well. He has totally let down a huge Agri sector and should lose because of it. Keep flooding the social network with the devious issues of this Gov't and there will be an election. They have now ticked off racing, CUPE, doctors, Catholic School board etc. All those urban seats may not be so secure any longer. Keep forwarding all this stuff to opposition MPPs. Like I said I am sure if we all gave $50.00 to an opposition party to help fund an election, they would see our power. Think about it 60,000 people at $50 each; I have already done it and told the MPP why my support is there. We have some clout so start to use it where they see it; not just writing letters, show your support where they understand it and that is money. They will get the picture!
To the Motts.....well done and I hope there is more coming!
Did anyone know that there
Did anyone know that there are more horses asses than there are horses????
Lets not forget the role of
Lets not forget the role of Dwight Duncan in this mess this wannabee Premier brought in Drummond mainly because he can shoulder the blame not the Minister of Fiance.
When you see those figures again its staggering how did it get to this point and how does Duncan keep his job. In the real world he and Premier Dad would be gone.
LETS CALL A SPADE A SPADE We
LETS CALL A SPADE A SPADE
We don't need to cut this guy (McGuinty) any slack.
he has been at the helm through all the scandles.
no decisions are made without this guy putting his two cents in....
As Mr. Runciman said its time to turn up the heat policical.
I work in the political environment....and believe me....a letter calling someone 'a no good low life' gets way more attention then ...'lets meet and try to work somethong out'...I also believe that many people have written the low life comments early on and have become frustrated with censorship....big mistake SC
Tabloids, papers and blogs, never seem to listen to the small guy, but wait until someone of rank says the same thing and then they print it....
So to the small men and women, flood the tabloids, papers and blogs with your true feelings..
LETS CALL A SPADE A SPADE
The lap sitters at Queen's
The lap sitters at Queen's park must be very nervous,(Larry Tannenbaum and Paul Godfrey)because if there is an election in the province of Ontario their whole scheme of lining their pockets could come crashing down with a very loud thud. Right now the climate for local casinos and gambling halls is not great. The storm clouds are forming. sincerely Bruce T. Winning
I am from Saskatchewan and I
I am from Saskatchewan and I am really happy that somebody from the media has spoken up. Carol in your last part you said that wouldn't want to be the premier that killed an industry in Ontario. Well you need to broaden your horizons. He would put the final nail in the coffin for racing in all of Canada. Forget such races as the Queens Plate, the North America Cup for Harness racing all gone. Every province in Canada is doing what Ontario is doing at the expense of racing industry. Maybe it is about time that the farmers sell their product to only small towns instead of large urban centers. What a thought eh. So where would the urban centers go for food???????? Think about it maybe it is time the federal government got involved. They have to dole out the EI not the provinces for all the unemployed people. I am not well and this just breaks my heart watching this stuff I thought Ontario had their act together sure doesn't take long to bust the bubble.
If the premier comes to the
If the premier comes to the realization that a mistake has been made in cancelling the slots "subsidy", I have an out for him to save face: This is agriculture and 60,000 (?) affected. Let the Department of Agriculture subsidize racing $360 million (or an agreed upon number). Where would Ag get the money? From the OLG. Everyone wins!