Today Bill 144, Budget Measures Act, 2015 was considered in detail by the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. Bill 144 establishes a new Act, the Horse Racing Industry Act, 2015, which will govern the horse racing industry upon dissolution of the Ontario Racing Commission.

Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece, who serves as opposition critic for the horse racing industry, and Laurie Scott, MPP Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, issued the following statement after the Liberals voted down all amendments to the Horse Racing Licence Act, 2015.

“In 2012, the government decimated the horse racing industry when it abruptly cancelled the Slots at Racetracks program. This decision was made without any consultation with industry experts.

“Now the government is ramming through the Horse Racing Licence Act in an omnibus bill, without taking the interests of the industry into account.

“We in the PC caucus have spoken with horse people and the industry associations. During the committee process, we made a number of important amendment recommendations based on these discussions.

“We called for:

• the removal of the AGCO’s maximum infraction penalties including jail and excessive fines;
• the ability to appeal decisions of the Horse Racing Appeal Panel to the Superior Court of Justice;
• making the grounds for a warrant the same as it is in the legal process, meeting the same standard of proof that a criminal prosecutor would; and
• the removal of the government’s ability to seize and hold onto property during an investigation.

“The government voted down all of these reasonable amendments, proving once again that the Liberals are not interested in supporting the needs of the horse racing industry.

“The government promised to strengthen and support the horse racing industry. Their actions today show they are doing neither.”

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