"I think there's widespread concern across the province, not just with the racing element, but with the government's so-called modernization program. This is essentially going back to the past, this expansion of regions and privatization which was rejected by the Harris government a number of years ago. It was wrong-headed and fraught with problems and potential for even more problems down the road."
This Friday, Senator Bob Runciman will take part in a town hall this Friday with PC Candidate Donna Skelly and PC MPP Garfield Dunlop for a frank and open discussion on issues concerning the slots-at-racetrack program (SARP) and the horse-racing industry. The town hall takes place Friday, Oct. 26 at The Dutch Mill in Millgrove, Ont. just minutes from Flamboro Downs, and starts at 1:00 p.m. As Runciman points out, the town hall is also in the backyard of Minister of Agriculture, Ted McMeekin to drive the message home on this "bad decision to simply cancel the slots-at-racetracks program."
"I have yet to fathom their rationale [for cancelling the SARP]," continued Runciman. "I know if you look at the Drummond Report - and this is relied upon for a lot of the decisions the government's taken - Drummond had some concerns and said that he felt perhaps the percentage of gross slot revenues was out of whack, and he compared it to other jurisdictions that do a similar program. What he said was to eventually review and rationalize the program. He didn't say to blindside the industry and everyone in the Ontario legislature for that matter - including Liberal MPPs in the cabinet - with this decision."
Runciman is the Chair of the Legal Committee in the Senate and one of the bills before him right now concerns the legalization of single-event sports betting. According to Runciman, the OLG does not want Ontario's racetracks to get in on this action and Norm Borg is quick to point out the apparent lack of fairness and irony in cutting out the industry partner with the slots-at-racetracks program before attempting to bolster its own operations with sports books at OLG casinos - and without the legislature in session for area MPPs to voice concerns and debate issues.
"I know one element that certainly New Jersey is looking at in terms of single-event betting is allowing the sports books to be located in the racetracks. And that's another area, if this legislation passes in the Federal House, I think this is something we should be pressing on not just the current government - likely we're going to have a provincial election in the Spring - and I think we should be getting all parties on side with a platform that deals with all of these gaming issues."
Borg and Runciman went on to discuss how the CPMA should be involved and engaged, potentially allowing harness racing to offer more wagering options. Runciman said that he'd be happy to discuss this with the Federal Minister of Agriculture and invited industry participants to the town hall and bring their ideas.
"I'd certainly like to hear specifics on ways in which the Federal level can improve the situation for the horse racing industry.
To hear the full interview with Senator Bob Runciman, click the play button below.
Episode 276 – Senator Bob Runciman
Audio Format: MP3 audio
Host: Norm Borg