Ontario Conservative Senator Bob Runciman hosted a media conference on Saturday, July 21 at Georgian Downs to highlight the negative economic impacts and significant job losses that will come from the Ontario Liberal government’s decision to end the Slots-At-Racetracks program next March.
"This is ill thought out," stated Runciman of the decision to end the profitable Slots-At-Racetracks program. "They talk about the Drummond Report, but Drummond doesn't recommend what is happening. He recommended a review. To blindside the industry without looking at the impacts is unbelievable. We're going to see bankruptcies and horses euthanized."
Runciman went on to voice his concerns regarding the $50 million transitional fund allocated by the provincial government for the horse racing industry to help displaced workers find new jobs and training. A panel consisting of former cabinet ministers Elmer Buchanan, John Snobelen and John Wilkinson is in the process of conducting consultations with the industry to determine how the transition funds will be used.
"People think this transition committee will do something, but they won't," said Runciman. "I think this merits a non-confidence motion in the legislature. How can a government lose 30,000 jobs without a cost benefit analysis?"
"We're talking about a loss of a minimum of 30,000 jobs and the Liberals think they'll find other jobs?" added Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop. "The Liberals made a decision to kill this industry and that's what they're doing."
During the conference, Runciman also stated that the horse racing industry needs to take stronger actions.
"I'm critical of the industry," he said. "I don't think they've done enough. They should be talking to people that understand government and not expensive PR firms...They need to start running effective advertising. They haven't even used social media, which doesn't cost you anything. There are so many opportunities in social media and for someone who loves the industry it's very frustrating.
"I don't know if they don't want to play hardball, but they need to play hardball," he added.
Hector Clouthier, a former MP and longtime supporter of the horse racing industry, also spoke at the media conference.
"I personally know the Premier and the Finance Minister and I figured quiet diplomacy would work, but I hit a brick wall," he said.
The former executive director of the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association (OHRIA) echoed Runciman's call to raise awareness of the issue amongst the general public.
"We in the industry haven't done a good job. I don't think the majority of Ontario residents understand the gravity of the situation," said Clouthier. "We've got to get out there and be more proactive and make the public aware of what is happening."
Hector also commented on the government's interest in revitalizing bingo halls -- a partnership less profitable for the government in comparison to the 75 per cent of revenues it receives from the Slots-At-Racetracks program.
"Look at the Bingo deal," he said. "The operators are getting 47 per cent of revenues and if you look at the personalities involved, you see that horse manure starts smelling sweet."
I attended the so called
I attended the so called press conference at Georgian Saturday .it turned out to be a fund raiser for the P.C. GARFIELD DUNLOP. On my way home after the races I thought we should hand out a one page report to the people at the BATTLE OF WATERLOO.If someone from TROT OHHA COSA OR CAW would be willing to do this I don't think they could stop me from handing out the literature to the public ? When the public realizes they will lose their slot machine to the bingo parlor they may wake up? THE ELECTION IN KITCHENER-WATERLOO is the next big battle , ANTHONY MacDonald has picked up the challenge . How about you? SEE YOU ALL AT THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO ! GRAND RIVER RACEWAY ...TK VOULANTEER WAR OF 2012.......
The key to solving this issue
The key to solving this issue is the NDP, but don't hold your breath, they are more afraid of losing their seats than helping our industry!
Horvath talks out of both sides of her mouth, one day supporting us the next she's in bed with the liberals.
A few platitudes and video / audio bites for the cameras from NDP MPP's is not what the horse people deserve, Mr MacDonald has the right idea and my full support run against them at every chance we get!
The please "Mr Premier, don't destroy our industry" just is not working and will not work.
Dozens of unwanted yearlings dropped off at Queens Park IS PROBABLY THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA & THE PUBLIC INVOLVED!
We have been let down badly by the powers that be in our industry with their Don't rock the boat to much approach.
We need a non confidence motion against the government & defy the NDP to not support it.
Instead of running down the
Instead of running down the Horse Industry about our lack of informing the public as to the wrong that has been done to us what is the point? The Government has made their decision and the only way I can see to stop this injustice is to prove them to be not of high standard and I am asking you Senator to lodge a complaint with the Integrity Commissioner on our behalf unless you think it is alright for them to send along 3 watchdogs and $50 million to appease the public when they spend $50 million each for 4 Liberal seats. This is not the work of honest men. Like many others in this Industry have done our best talking to Newspapers,radio stations, politicians,lawyers etc. If you truly believe what you are saying then lodge the complaint.
How true Mr. Runciman and Mr.
How true Mr. Runciman and Mr. Clouthier! The time for being polite and patient is passing quickly. If we are going to have any impact on this ill-advised government, we are going to have to put up a stronger attack. Mr. James's letters in the Toronto Star and Mr. Mills' billboard campaign have helped to educate the public in Toronto where it really counts but the entire industry needs to do more to tell the real facts. People are still confused or completely ignorant of the situation that we are in and how it will effect the entire province. I agree that putting too much faith in this Liberal-appointed panel is foolish. We have a leader in OHRIA. Now we need the leadership to fight with real ammunition!
It appears that stone walling
It appears that stone walling is the name of the Liberal +pals game. Perhaps Mr. Runciman can use his national influence to get this story to the CBC.
nice to see runcimon
nice to see runcimon but,
mlse boss larry tannenbaum right at the top of the list of dirty hands here...disgraceful really...the former national reveneue chair of the lib party of canada and his ad lib gambling company Boardwalk right at the forefront of taking down the ponies in ontario with the `resurgence`of bingo halls and as stated before, by all indications, Godfrey signing up this guy in advance of the SAR cancellation note.
when dwight duncan looked totally like a gelding this past week when ADMITTING that ontario liberal backroom boys --like sobrara, kinsella, toronto star,tannenebaum, smitherman, etc,,made libs sell the power plant in western GTA to save lib seats and therefore last election, you knew that mcguinty and duncan had been reduced to nothing more than well, `bingo-ball callers`
horsefans, the jig is up,,,the layers of this liberal, hold onto power anyway they can --just look at the canadian liberal picture,,and it aint good- the layers of this evil are very deep.....and if backroom boys are making decisions in what looks like a ``just too many chefs in the kitchen and everyone getting in like a dirty shirt`` manner, and can hurt a few conservative ridings while stuffing their pockets and their friends pockets to the brim, before this liberal party ship sinks,,,then thats what there gonna do.
and of course please note,,,these libs dont think their ship will sink because theyve got hundreds of thousands of voters out there who have no clue what horseracing is, but can tell you about all day kindergarten, religious rulings, the cbc and hospital care for their overseas mothers who are here supposedly `just visiting``
i wish i was wrong but, its been a good run.
jctoronto