Clouthier Gives 'Em Hec

With less than a week to go in the federal election, one of Canada's most closely watched political races involves the Renfrew-Nippising-Pembroke riding pitting incumbent MP Cheryl Gallant against former MP and longtime harness racing supporter Hec Clouthier

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"I firmly believe I'm gonna win this thing on May 2, and we're having a lot of fun at it," Clouthier told CBC, which along with the Ottawa Citizen have covered what is predicted to be a close race between Gallant and Clouthier. The Citizen has endorsed Clouthier as the best bet to topple Gallant, stating "Clouthier has the best chance of defeating Gallant and representing the interests of the riding."

Gallant, a Conservative MP, has held the seat since 2000 but according to the CBC her "once-insurmountable lead is wavering as local radio stations and print editorials call for change." CBC notes that "support for Clouthier is swelling, according to polls" and references his colourful personality and his series of campaign videos through what he's calling "Hec Tube."

Be sure to check out the feature story on Clouthier in the May 2011 State of the Industry issue of Trot Magazine. Quotes from the feature story include the following:

The first thing he'll do after getting elected into parliament:
"The first thing I'll do is meet with the CPMA. That's a draconian institution that needs to get with the program. How are we supposed to compete with the Texas Hold'em's and casinos if we can't have new types of exotic betting? The people there aren't part of the sport and don't understand it. They operate behind a curtain yet wield so much control. They need a kick in the pants."

Section 31 of the Income Tax Act, which limits farm losses for owners to $8,270:
He says as an independent, he'll have more freedom to voice his ideas and affect a positive outcome. He points to how he can now take a more direct approach to industry issues like the Income Tax Act.
"When I was a Liberal MP I tried to convince Paul Martin to at least double the limit," he says.

Marketing the sport:
"We need a centralized marketing approach. A portion of purse money has to be dedicated to marketing the sport and attracting a younger audience. The trainers and drivers may not like it but if we don't do something now," he warns, "what happens if the government decides to reduce the flow of money from slots?"