"You have to go back in the history of the province to find out why the government first brought slots into the harness racing industry and it was to generate jobs and build up the harness racing industry, and by all accounts it was a huge success.”
New Democratic Party candidate Catherine Fife, who is vying for MPP in the crucial Kitchener/Waterloo September 6 by-election, has expanded upon comments made earlier this week about the Slots-At-Racetracks program and Ontario horse racing industry.
"It isn't a subsidy when it generates $1.1 billion in revenue [for the government] and that's what it is doing,” said Fife. “This is another wrong-headed idea by the Liberal government. They're interrupting a program that is actually working, that's actually creating jobs, that's fostering and supporting the rural economy, which they say they value. In my estimation, the rural economy is largely being ignored and I think they've done a very good job of pushing back as they should in this regard.”
Fife went on to highlight that fact that it was the NDP that negotiated the one-time transitional funding for horse racing in the 2012 budget.
"We felt you can't just abandon rural families without any consultation,” she said. “It's a matter of respect and it's a poor fiscal plan as well.”
Some good comments - but -
Some good comments - but - the statement concerning the possible loss of 5,800 jobs is very telling.
The process used by the Liberals and the OLG to rationalize their decision to end the Slots At Race Tracks Partnership was a total travesty - full of lies and distortions. For an Opposition Party member running for office to quote the 5,800 as if it was a valid number is inexcusable.
The plan is to close down 65% or more of the tracks - that support about 60,000 full time and part time jobs - with the tracks remaining presumably operating with lower purses and less money for maintenance and upgrades - while our friends to the south are building more and more Racinos ............ AND YET ONLY 3,500 to 5,800 JOBS MAY BE LOST ! REALLY ?
Thanks for your support
Thanks for your support Catherine, but the slots went to the tracks because no one else wanted them. It is true the SARP has been a blessing for the industry but it has been much more of a benefit to the province. In New York, the return to the State for July from racinos was about $75 million , which is considerably less than the take in Ontario.In contrast, New York is thrilled with the return from their program while here our program is treated with disgust and contempt. The government really needes a reality check.