Wynne Speaks On Horse Racing

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Published: February 15, 2013 09:20 am EST

Kathleen Wynne officially addressed the province's horse racing industry in her capacity as Ontario's Premier on Thursday.

During a conference call with reporters, Wynne spoke about racing, casinos and her dual role as Premier and Minister of Agriculture.

“My vision of the horse racing industry is that it would be sustainable and that in order for it to be sustainable it has to be smaller, so I think that's the transition we need to make right now,” she said. “But we need to be conscious that we need to keep this industry in shape going forward.”

Premier Wynne also noted that while she has yet to meet with the horse racing industry transition panel, she plans to do so in the near future.

Wynne also addressed the OLG modernization strategy, stating that the province needs to remove itself from casino expansion talk and allow municipalities to decide.

“It's a contentious issue,” said Wynne. “Differences of opinion are evident in governments and in communities, and that's what makes it contentious...My position on casinos is we're going to allow municipalities — within the provincial framework — to decide whether or not they want a casino and where it will be located. We'll be very clear that all the rules will have to be followed in terms of zoning and other decisions.”

Those rules include zoning issues like the ones that were brought up during Flamboro's lively city council debate, where the nod was given to allow for casino expansion at Flamboro Downs if the site is viable. Due to Greenbelt Act protection, the Flamboro site is not fully zoned for expansion into a large multi-purpose entertainment complex.

Wynne also stated she's confident that she can handle the agriculture portfolio while also serving as Premier.

“We need to make it a competitive industry in Ontario,” said Wynne of the agriculture sector. “I see it as my general role as premier that we work on the creation of jobs.”

According to a recent Abacus Data Poll, Ontarians agree with the focus on job creation.

“Ontarians identified jobs, the economy, and health care as the top three issues facing the province,” said David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data after results of recent a poll were published Thursday. “We heard a lot about the economy during the Liberal leadership race and I suspect you will hear a lot about that in the coming Throne Speech.”

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), who launched a a campaign in January to defend the jobs of workers employed at Georgian Downs racetrack in Innisfil, says Ontarians can expect to see more layoffs - like the more than 100 Woodbine Entertainment Group employees that were let go earlier this week - unless the government changes course.

"Premier Wynne has to act now to protect the good paying jobs Ontario's horse racing industry sustains. It is clear across the province that racetracks are not going to be able to maintain their current staffing levels if the government replaces the Slots at Racetracks Program with lease agreements, as has been agreed to at more than 10 tracks," said DeSousa.

NDP Labour Critic and Essex MPP Taras Natyshak says the layoffs at Woodbine and Mohawk racetracks demonstrate how inadequate government transition plans were following the end of the Slots At Racetracks Program.

“Once again, we’re reminded just how short sighted the SARP cancellation really was,” said Natyshak. “By pulling the rug out from under the folks at Woodbine, the government has dealt a serious blow to a historic entertainment venue, and cost many hard working Ontarians their jobs.”

“The Slots At Racetrack Program was a great investment for Ontario,” said Natyshak. “In addition to directing millions of dollars into public coffers, it fostered a vibrant, healthy horse racing industry. By cancelling the program, not only is the government walking away from a sustainable revenue stream – they are turning their back on thousands of hard working Ontarians.

During Thursday's casino debate in Hamilton, councillors raised an interesting OLG statistic with respect to job creation in that small business generated twice as many jobs as an OLG casino with the same amount of revenue.

Research indicates reduced revenues (and therefore job losses) for retail, restaurant, and other entertainment functions. This is called “the displacement effect”. (From OLG published info – it appears that, in Gananoque, the casino creates one job for each $220,000 of gross revenues. Many smaller businesses can create a job with as little as $100,000 of gross revenues – so it is likely that the net effect is job losses.)

The Abacus Data Poll showed that 40% of Ontarians agreed that Kathleen Wynne should call an election to get a mandate from Ontarians while 38% percent disagreed that an election should be called. Twenty-one per cent were unsure.

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