Senator Bob Runciman continues to receive attention for his comments and ideas in favour of Ontario's slots-at-racetracks program in advance of his media conference later this month.
In a letter to the Toronto Sun titled "Pull the plug on pulling the slots from our racetracks", Runciman once again outlines the economic impact and value of the province's program, considered to be the model for other jurisdictions in horse racing. After years of fighting, Ohio finally approved a similar program earlier this year and tracks are already seeing benefits. Pennsylvania's Governor Tom Corbett was considering taking a cut from horse racing for the state's 2012-2013 budget, but thought better of it.
Runciman, who is holding a media conference at Georgian Downs on July 21, feels that this "harmful initiative is, for the most part, flying under the radar could be because it primarily affects rural Ontario, and attracts little notice from the big media centres of urban Ontario." This idea parallels the sentiments of former MP Dennis Mills, who has created the Racing Future campaign to bring this dire situation to a greater prominence within the consciousness of Greater Toronto Area citizens.
"To put the impact in perspective, take the entire Ontario workforce of the Big Three automakers (around 20,000) and add 10,000. True, workers in the horse racing industry aren’t making auto-sector wages, but these are jobs that pay an average of $50,000 a year," notes Runciman. "The McGuinty government justifies its inane decision by dishonestly suggesting the percentage of slot machine revenues paid to race tracks and the horse people is robbing funds from health care and education. The reality is, this is a short-sighted, ill-thought-out decision that will ultimately cost the provincial treasury hundreds of millions of dollars — much more than the short term cash grab will return — and will further damage a staggering economy."
Runciman's full letter appears below.
In the past few months, we’ve seen extensive coverage in the mainstream media of job losses in Ontario — Research in Motion, General Motors, Electro-Motive Diesel, and on and on.
In the middle of this job-loss crisis — and it is a crisis, considering that half a million manufacturing jobs have been lost in Ontario since 2003 — the McGuinty Liberal government has made another of its bizarre decisions that serve to further cripple an already suffering economy. And it’s a decision that has received minimal media attention and consequently one that Ontarians have shown little awareness of, or concern about.
The budget announcement that the government is pulling slot machines out of racetracks early next year will result in the loss of 30,000 jobs. These are jobs that pay, on average, the equivalent of good manufacturing jobs in the province. And those who will end up on the unemployment line will have difficulty finding work in the current environment, let alone finding a job that offers an equivalent income.
To put the impact in perspective, take the entire Ontario workforce of the Big Three automakers (around 20,000) and add 10,000. True, workers in the horse racing industry aren’t making auto-sector wages, but these are jobs that pay an average of $50,000 a year, according to a 2010 study by Econometric Research Ltd. And these jobs support families across Ontario.
The McGuinty government justifies its inane decision by dishonestly suggesting the percentage of slot machine revenues paid to race tracks and the horse people is robbing funds from health care and education. The reality is, this is a short-sighted, ill-thought-out decision that will ultimately cost the provincial treasury hundreds of millions of dollars — much more than the short term cash grab will return — and will further damage a staggering economy. Do the math — it’s not hard.
If you think I’m being alarmist, look at what has happened since the slots were pulled out of tracks in Windsor, Fort Erie and Sarnia. Not only did 560 jobs linked to the slot machines disappear immediately, but hundreds more will follow now that the closure of the tracks in Windsor and Fort Erie has been announced. There is significant concern that the Sarnia track will not survive, either.
That is the fate in store for most of the province’s other 14 tracks unless the government changes course.
The fact that this harmful initiative is, for the most part, flying under the radar could be because it primarily affects rural Ontario, and attracts little notice from the big media centres of urban Ontario.
I’ve written before that I don’t think the horse racing industry has done a very good job of making its case. Compare the relative silence from those affected by this decision with the aggressive campaign launched by Ontario doctors fighting planned OHIP cuts.
Turning this decision around is possible, given the reality of a minority government at Queen’s Park, but the industry and others have to get off their collective fannies, raise public awareness and concerns and force provincial politicians to recognize the significant negative impacts of this decision. Otherwise, we’re kissing goodbye to 30,000 jobs — jobs that Ontario desperately needs.
Take a look at the tactics
Take a look at the tactics employed by "The First Nations". They block roard and highways, and Caledonia. They get results. They have learned from Brutal experience what negotiation with the Government leads too. Sadly the Horseracing people lack the intestinal fortitude to do what is required!!
Leslie Porter has a good
Leslie Porter has a good idea....however the slots owners would likely have to approve the T shirts, pamphlets, signs etc. BUT there are some track owners that will be glad when this is over and they don't have to hold racing...Mr. Runciman is wonderful and I appreciate his willingness to FIGHT....we all must fight and keep up the pressure
I have to agree with Jane
I have to agree with Jane Rutherford about the information not getting to the average Joe & Jane out there. I was at Flamboro last night and it just looked like business as usual. There were a few hundred people going into the slots and this would have been a prime opportunity to pass out some pamphlets and let the people know what is going on with the cancellation of the programme and how it will affect people. Why can't the racetrack staff, i.e. the people working in the gift shop wear t-shirts saying "Save the Slots-at-Racetrack Programme"? There could be signs set up in the parking lots. The Liberal government has never asked their customers (the slot players) if they would switch their playing location to casinos. Maybe this is something the racetracks should ask them and find out why they enjoy playing the slots at the racetrack rather than casinos. The article the other day regarding the possibility of taxes rising due to the possible loss of slot revenue in Milton hits people where it hurts...in the pocketbook. That's something that affects the average taxpayer within 17 municipalities and gives them something to think about.
Maybe it's time we joined
Maybe it's time we joined with the Doctors and Teachers and compared notes.
Pool our resources and information.
How about a giant coalition, even with the CAW.
We are all affected by this corrupt government and no other party is going to be any better, we have seen that already.
So the battle continues at
So the battle continues at Georgian 21 July? We should find out if Innisville is going to raise their taxes 25 percent like Milton (Halton) has threatened to do if they close MOHAWK? The three stooges have gotten us into another fine mess!!!!!!!!!! We don't need another dues collecting union like the UAW ! See you all at the races on the 21st ...win all the battles and we win the war of 2012....Tom
I have to totally agree with
I have to totally agree with Senator Bob. We need to get vocal and share information rather than spending money on lawyers to file class action suits.
Create some press for Dalton and Dwight by asking questiions about Larry Tannenbaum's involvement in buying up Bingo licenses two years ago. Funny that slots are now going into Bingo Parlors.
His withdrawal from an option to take over the Belleville slots at the Simmons Belleville venture.
His affiliation with Paul Godfrey at the OLG.
His involvement in holding all the leases own all the new Service Centres on 401 from Windsor to the Quebec border as well as the new ones northbound on Hwy 400. Funny that all those same Centres were built by Ellis Don Construction from London.
Possible connections to Dalty and Dwight might be Mrs Smith, a former Cabinet minister in the Liberal government. Her last name is synonymous with Ellis Don and she is the mother of Shelly Peterson, the wife of former Premier David Peterson.
I, for one ,am constantly trying to get some press in the Star, Sun and Globe regarding this affiliation . I hope you all will as well . Together we can achieve to bring some sanity to this situation of insanity................hang in there!!!!!!!
The publicity and information
The publicity and information that needs to get to downtown Joe and Jane is not getting there. These are the people that need to be informed. Instead it appears to me that most of the articles are in Rural newspapers or on Standardbred Canada. Those are the people that already know what is happening. It is your average person that lives in the big cities, that has never been to a horse race, and believes that we are taking money from education and health that needs to be educated. So far I have not seen much done to get to them. The billboards in the subways were great as long as people took the time to write down the website address and look it up when they got home. The reality is that the majority probably didn't bother. You have to make them care by getting them to understand the effect it will have on their lives. People don't care how something effects the lives of others if it doesn't effect them. Sad but true.
The publicity and information
The publicity and information that needs to get to downtown Joe and Jane is not getting there. These are the people that need to be informed. Instead it appears to me that most of the articles are in Rural newspapers or on Standardbred Canada. Those are the people that already know what is happening. It is your average person that lives in the big cities, that has never been to a horse race, and believes that we are taking money from education and health that needs to be educated. So far I have not seen much done to get to them. The billboards in the subways were great as long as people took the time to write down the website address and look it up when they got home. The reality is that the majority probably didn't bother. You have to make them care by getting them to understand the effect it will have on their lives. People don't care how something effects the lives of others if it doesn't effect them. Sad but true.
With all due respect Linda,
With all due respect Linda, like Peggy I have written more letters and emailed MPPs weekly, sent stories into radio and tv stations, posted comments online in response to newspaper stories and just sent a 174 page complaint to the Ontario Ombudsman. I have been banned from posting on Andrea Horwath's facebook page. I use my own FB page to spread news about the racing industry crisis. I have typed myself to death these past 4 months. I went to every rally that was held. It is obviously time for a change in tactics. Being passive and "negotiating" with the government is just not cutting it.
In reply to With all due respect Linda, by kpmcbride
That's terrific. I can see
That's terrific. I can see that you and many others have been working hard at this campaign for a long time.
BUT, WE NEED THOUSANDS OF MORE VOICES! EVERY PERSON WHO IS CONCERNED NEEDS TO START WRITING TO THEIR MPP'S AND EVERYONE ELSE IN GOVERNMENT WHO WOULD BE IMPLICATED.
THERE IS POWER IN NUMBERS!
It is really offensive how
It is really offensive how the Liberal government has seemingly ignored the pleading by the 60,000 plus Ontarians directly affected by the slots at racetracks programs' efforts to do something logical about this situation. We all pay taxes and contribute to the local, provincial and federal programs, and then we are just being swept aside like yesterdays' trash. This is absolutely unacceptable, and praise God for a man like Bob Runciman who is willing to use his clout to try and do something about this. Perhaps people should pay a little more attention to what Mr. Runciman has to say, and embrace the efforts of Charles Juravinski. These men don't have to stand up for racing, they have chosen to, and we should support them and become unified in this effort. Otherwise, if you choose to bow down to this injustice and pretend it is happening, it is just a matter of time before the rug is swept out from under you.
A big THANK YOU to all those
A big THANK YOU to all those who are making their voices heard in the fight to save the horse racing industry in Ontario.
WE CAN ALL DO OUR PART! Each person who is concerned or affected in any way, needs to speak out. We can do this very effectively and inexpensively through a concerted letter-writing campaign, to our elected members of the Ontario government, the Liberal members and the opposition. They have been elected to serve us and we need to let them know what we want. All the information about the government members is available on the government website: www.ontla.on.ca.
You can send the same letter to your MPP, as well as any other members whom you think should be concerned about this situation- such as the Premier,the Ministers of Labour, Economic Development and Innovation, Agriculture, and also the opposition members sitting on standing committees and critics of those ministries.
I am writing my letters today and mailing them tomorrow. Only one voice, one letter will not have much impact. But can you imagine the impact of thousands of letters? I know everyone is busy, certainly horsepeople are, but you can recruit family members and friends to help you.
Let's not just sit back and complain. Let us make our voices heard!
Boy, has Senator Runciman
Boy, has Senator Runciman every hit the nail on the head on so many issues. Is anyone listening? We are becoming so disjointed in this battle to save our industry that we are playing into the Liberal's hands. OHRIA has spent almost half a million dollars to date for what? Either they are keeping a lot of it under their hats or there is simply nothing positive to talk about. People are starting to speculate and are getting disheartened as each day passes and nothing seems to be happening. We hear that the OHRIA panel is divided as to what direction they want to go. Is that true? Time marches on and we are running short on that commodity.
Senator Runciman has given more than enough encouragment to our industry and seems to think that we can win but only if we stop being so damned complacent. I have to agree.
In reply to Boy, has Senator Runciman by Lynne Magee
Lynne, I can assure you that
Lynne,
I can assure you that the money raised by OHRIA is not just kept under our hats. OHRIA has been actively working on this hard since early March. Lobbyists aren't cheap, it costs money to launch a grassroots campaign and there are plenty of volunteer hours put in from all of the directors. We have had press conferences, interviews, media pieces etc and these continue. The fact is that it has been a slow and drawn out battle, one that we must continue to fight. I understand that people are getting disheartened and nothing seems to be happening...sometimes I feel that too and have just as much to lose as anyone else. Rather than criticize, I urge you to get involved...write your ombudsman, keep talking to your MPP, contribute some money. I can't guarantee any sort of outcome but know that our only option is to firmly push back as much as possible and to not stop!
In reply to Lynne, I can assure you that by annameyers
Anna; I have written letters,
Anna;
I have written letters, made calls, sent e-mails, collected signatures on petitions, contacted media, written to the ombudsman, attended rallies,etc. etc. and continue to do so. I wasn't criticizing---I was telling it like it is. My MPP is totally on our side and fighting along with us but she is a newly elected (replaced a Liberal so we are getting extra punishment) Conservative and, like her entire party, has no power when the NDP are non-commital. There are rumours flying around everywhere and no one gives the poor, dumb suckers out in the sticks the truth or the time of day. Like many, we are a small barn but we've got as much invested in this industry as some and more than others. It seems to many of us that the only ones that might come out of this with some semblance of a racing future are the big, city owners with the ability to escape to the south if we don't do as Senator Runciman says and get off our fannies and start a real fight.
It's all about publicity.
It's all about publicity. Ads need to be running on tv and radio on an ongoing basis. This will take millions of dollars I am sure. The quickest way to access that type of funding would be through purse account funds, but would the ORC ever grant a redirection of funds? Given the tangled politics, not likely, but we need to try!
I am glad you mentioned the
I am glad you mentioned the auto industry Sir.I think the horseman should LOOK at joing the CAW.Ken Lewanza,the President of the CAW is a horse racing fan from
Windsor.They are starving for more membership.Partnered with the above Senator maybe the CAW can get something done.The horseman NEED some leverage.The CAW and Lewenza would do this.Think of the power this would bring us horseman ?Don't laugh this off.The CAW is a strong voice in Ontario.
KH
In reply to I am glad you mentioned the by ken h
agree and do it quickly
agree and do it quickly
I would be glad to do more
I would be glad to do more than I have done . I have written letter after letter to the government officials, to the news papers, to the humaine societies,to the WPCA etc. I really think that I must be on the automatic delete list of many of these orgaizations. I have also been at our rallies, townhall & OHHA meetings.I have also sent suggestions to ORHIA that included handing out pamphlets at our major stake events & I feel that this should have been acted upon & still should be.If there is more that I can do PLEASE tell me & I will do it. I am at a loss. I have also contributed my hard earned dollars in response to OHRIA's request.I feel that all of the orgaizations that are working for us have done a good job & that certainly does include OHHA as well as OHRIA.I think that more drastic action is needed imediately. If that is a class action suit then lets get at it. Our ORC is certainly not going to be of any use to us.
SO SO TRUE THANK YOU FOR
SO SO TRUE THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD KNOWS WE NEED IT .