Liberal Reports Support Ontario Horse Racing's Employment Figures

It is interesting that the governement figures it will be about 60,000 people that will be affected by all the governement issues when in reality it will hit the racing community hard and then it will filter down to housing, insurance, auto, food, farmers, gas, hydro, all all the other services that everyone uses everyday. And then what happens to all the animals that have no say in the matter.

The reports were not authored by the Liberals. They were authored by private research companies for the Liberal Government. I think that needs to be emphasized.

We as an industry need to convince the NDP to vote against the budget and bring this government down. Every horse person who lives in an NDP riding needs to convince their member not to play politics, show some back bone and defeat the budget.
We need to get rid of this bunch of liars, the only way we as an industry are going to survive is to bring down the government.
The liberals are experts at politics, All day kindergarten or horse racing. the liberals will "Spin" it so they look good. My Grandmother needs and MRI, or horse racing - again public opinion will side with the liberal "Spin" we as an industry will lose!

Earlier this week Ontario's Finance Minister Dwight Duncan stated that the employment figures showing 60,000 people are employed directly or indirectly by horse racing are "grossly exaggerated," and that "nobody" buys that number. This report came from his own liberal gov't.

I guess what he is actually stating would be the first truth in a long time. Not that the number of people employed in the industry is wrong, but that he quite frankly states "figures grossly exaggerated; nobody buys that number; that nobody should believe the Liberal Government's facts and figures! Well Thank you Mr. Duncan, more and more of us are learning that each day!

We dont have to get it out into the mainstream news ALL we have to do is ask the NDP nicely to bring down the govt by defeating the budget. Then we will get rid of this ludicrous economics ideaoligy by CURLY AND MOE .....Remember this is the guy who said in opposition to the under pressure gas station owners in the fuel dibbacle a few years ago .... stop complaining sell more candy enough of the insults folks lets bat smart and direct our pitches to Andrea and co Tim and co are onboard ......

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story! As George Costanza of 'Seinfeld' fame said " its not a lie if you truly believe it"!! Bravo Mr. Duncan, the prosecution rests!

Mr. Duncan has no excuse after today. Brian Tropea provided Mr Duncan's office with a copy today during our rally. Would have been nice to see him there but he and Mr. McGuinty were likely out having lunch at some country club on our money.

IS THERE ANYONE AT ALL OUT THERE WHO CAN GET THIS STORY INTO THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA ????????? TV STATIONS AND FRONT PAGE NEWS OF THE SUN AND STAR?
HOW ABOUT A YOUTUBE VIDEO EXPOSING THE LIES THIS GOVERNMENT HAS TOLD ABOUT THE HORSERACING INDUSTRY ALONG WITH THE PROOF OF THESE LIES AS PROVIDED BY THE LIBERALS OWN REPORTS AND PRE ELECTION SPEECHES? WITH ANY LUCK AT ALL IT WILL GO VIRAL AND THESE PEOPLE WILL BE EXPOSED FOR THE BACKSTABBING, LYING INCOMPETENT MORONS THEY ARE.

I would urge each and every person here to read this report. This report is correct in every aspect. Changes do need to be implicated in a new agreement. This industry can flourish and prosper if properly managed (not by the Liberals). His breakdown on page 39 is a must read and not if, but when, this industry is given life again next week, I would fully support a plan like the one he has laid out.

In his report, Mr. Sadinsky has laid out in plain english, that this is a very important industry in this Province. His report undeniably states that this industry should continue as it adds a large revenue stream to our Province and supports with its revenue other important programs like Healthcare and Education. Duncan cannot possibly spin this report as it was commissioned by his party. He took the advice of the Drummond Report to end the slot agreement and now he has to take the advice of Mr. Sadinski who the Liberals paid to do this report. How can he not?

Gary Blackburn

For Dwight Duncan to say that we are misleading the public with our "grossly exagerated" numbers is an extremely unprofessional comment. It is certainly not a comment that you would like to hear from someone who deals with "numbers" on a daily basis, or someone who is suppose to be in charge of our tax dollars. I am not only disappointed with the way they are handling the Slots at Racetrack programs but am inclined to ask the question, "What is the fate for all the racehorses"? Does the welfare of the horse play any role in all of this? These were all animals that had a purpose and a place in the equine world, but because of a politician’s misguided approach to dealing with financial issues, their lives will come to an end. For anyone who has an appreciation for the horse, it is a horrible thought. We certainly need to make our voices heard, and we certainly need to make them 10 times louder on behalf of the horses.

At first, I was angry with Mr. Duncan. Not any more. I am extending the olive branch to him and accept he did not have full information as to number of horse people in Ontario.
So, OK, Mr. Duncan, everyone makes mistakes. Yup, me included!!

Your own Govt says there are 55,000 horse people in Ontario. But, wait!!
That's just horse people. What about the John Deere outlet selling tractors?
Farmers growing hay? Real estate people selling that nice farm up near Kawartha? Drug companies supplying our friends the vets?

See what I mean, Mr. Duncan? There are a lot more than 55,000-60,000 people under the racing umbrella.Gas stations,food vendors on the backstretch, TV hosts, and the TV stations, the makers of racing silks, alcohol suppliers (owned by the Liberals), printers of programs, starting car drivers,the list goes on.

Mr. Duncan, I would like you to bring your wife to Woodbine, or Mohawk and I'll show you what racing is all about.

In the meantime--the figures of race people as supplied by THE LIBERALS is away higher than what you said. I'm not mad at you--only trying to help you with the true number of race people.

Your Govt. in 2008 said there 55,000 jobs being performed in the racing industry. Racing has expanded since then, so the real count is at least 55,000 jobs.

Nobody is going to point their finger at you and say, "You made a mistake." They might however, bring their kids to your riding office, and along with their wives, will thank you with tears of gratitude running down their face.

Great job lets get this info in as many publications as possible so that we continue to show the human costs and misleading info being spread by the Liberal govt. I called 6 different Ndp offices and was told that horse racing was one of the issues that is being raised to the liberals regarding the NDP voting yes for the budget but it is important for horseman to continue to call NDP offices to keep this issue at the forefront. Take 15 minutes of your time today to phone NDP constituency offices and let them know that they have the opportunity to save your employment and as the party who represents labour there are between 30000 to 60000 people like yourself who have been ambushed by this government and their is no union or organized entity that appears to have any leverage with this government who has been able to slow down this governments destruction of this industry and the 60000 jobs within. If the NDP wonders why there have not been any lawsuits or major objections or screams of unfair labour practises it is because they were smart enough to know that by suggesting that present racetrack owners will be be allowed to bid on the new casinos it would be destructive for them to threaten lawsuits before they know whether they will get the new contracts. So this is how this plays out in the governments and OLG,s eyes.1. Take away the government contract by using a little known one year clause in the previous contract 2. Let the plant owner {racetrack) know that after they lay off all the experienced hard working unionized employees they will be allowed to bid on the new contract. 3 Let the plant owners know that there will be other parties bidding on this contract to ensure that labour(horsemen) and plant owner (racetracks) stop working together. 4 Hope that by leaving everyone in the dark and with a small sense of hope that the next contract will involve them, the industry loses its momentum and the employees except their fate and stop fighting. Dear NDP members of parliament I am not employed in the horse racing industry. I am an investor and have taken a huge hit financially by this ambush by the liberal govt . When the dust settles I will like alot of other investors take my fight to the courts of Ontario to find out if the governments actions were legal and reasonable. Unfortunately for the hard working individuals who are directly employed in this industry the courts are not the solution. It will take your party to denounce this government for exactly what this is "UNFAIR PREDATORY LABOUR PRACTISES"

Just more evidence that Mr. Duncan has still not learned to get his facts and figures straight, before he makes stupid off-the-wall statements. The old adage, "Open Mouth, Insert Foot", or ENGAGE BRAIN BEFORE OPENING MOUTH", seems to be more and more fitting!

This is how we got to this point. The Liberals have an attitude that if we burry our heads into the sand it will all go away. Unfortunately our deficit is real and so are the jobs that are going to be loss. In my whole life I have never seen a government that is so cold hearted and unfriendly to its constituents. Time for a change.