"'Value for money' is the new buzzword in budget layouts. The racing industry needs stand up now via social networking, emails, petitions and showing up at Queen’s Park to show the government that the 150-plus-year history of Ontario racing, the 60,000-plus jobs and the spin-off employment which comes from the industry are indeed a very good bang for the buck."
Members of Parliament, fellow politicians, horse racing officials, horsemen and women, and columnists in the know have come out in full force against the recommendations put forth for Ontario slots-at-racetracks program by the now-infamous Drummond Report.
One of the most recent racing columnists to stick to the facts regarding the successful program is Doug Graham of The Whig-Standard.
In his most recent column, Graham states that, "(Ontario) Finance Minister Dwight Duncan completely misrepresents the revenue sharing partnership that has existed under contract with racetracks, the OLG slots and local municipalities when he states racing receives a 'subsidy' from the slots."
Graham also wrote:
'There are 60,000 jobs at stake. The original deal of revenue sharing by the slots and racetracks was to boost the industry and enhance job opportunities in it.
That worked.
Gambling on those jobs still being plentiful while messing with the slots at racetracks program is a poor bet by the government.
After all, it isn’t about betting on who is going to hit the finish line first. This is about real people and their livelihood.'
(With files from The Whig Standard)