Horse racing industry participants gathered for a roundtable discussion with members of the PC party last week at REACH Huron and the message was clear: time is running out.
A total of 25 participants took part in the roundtable discussion with Huron Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson and MPP Monte McNaughton, PC Critic for Economic Development and Innovation. McNaughton has been part of seven roundtable discussions at racetracks across Ontario in order to compile a report for caucus.
“Without a doubt the industry is devastated,” said McNaughton. “We heard in our roundtable today with municipal leaders and economic development people and people in the horse racing industry that time is running out. We have to wait and see what the transition panel has to say in two weeks in their report, but until then and even after then we are going to continue to fight as hard as possible to try to save these jobs,” McNaughton told the Mitchell Advocate.
The transitional panel, comprised of Elmer Buchanan, John Snobelen and John Wilkinson, are expected to finish their report for government later this month. The common theme around the table was that these participants resented being presented as subsidized and didn't want the industry to be subsidized.
“No one wants transitional funding - we want our livelihood back. I love what I do. I get up in the morning because I want to do this. I don’t want to be retrained,” said longtime trainer Philip Coole.
“I don’t want a subsidy. I have been a strong Conservative all my life and I do not want to live off the government tit,”said horse farm owner Mark Beaven. “This was a private public partnership that worked extremely well for both sides. It was probably one of the most successful private public partnerships.”
Cutting the slots-at-racetrack program could devastate communities like Clinton, with Central Huron Mayor James Ginn comparing this to BSE crisis felt by Alberta's cattle industry.
“Those events, like this one, are extremely hard on our rural infrastructure. We seem to lose a vet clinic or we lose a farm dealership or a seed dealer or something like that. It’s not the end of agriculture but it drives up everyone’s expenses,” said Ginn.
McNaughton and Thompson clearly understand the ripple effect and will report back numbers detailing the economic impact on racetrack communities.
“The ripple effect in Huron Bruce is staggering,” said Thompson. "We are talking about an industry that on a farm-to-farm basis represents hundreds of thousands of dollars and that’s a message we have to get through to our entire province, our premier and our finance minister as well,” said Thompson.
According to The Advocate, Central Huron would need to raise taxes 15 per cent or make cuts to offset the money received from the slots-at-racetracks program.
Last year I bought 4
Last year I bought 4 yearlings at the Forest City auction and bought into 3 other yearlings for a total of 7. I have downloaded the catalogue for the Canadian Yearling sale in Flamboro in September, however, I will not buy an Ontario bred yearling unless we hear something phenominal from the transitional panel. Taking it one step further, I own the majority or pieces of 32 horses and I will take steps to liquidate down to only horses I can send to the USA to race.
I believe that is a sensible business decision.
So what some will say, he's not a major player. Well, today I read an article about one of Casie Coleman's horses that she bought for $92,000 last year. In that article she says the same thing. She will not buy an Ontario bred horse if there is no OSS program. I am paraphrasing but read it for yourself. Have a look at her barn and see how much they spend.
If Casie is abstaining, who else will walk away? Surely the prices will be devastated without the big buyers and further decimated without the middle of the road guys like me.
McGuinty continues to slam us, even today. Clearly the Liberals are going to ride this theme right through the by-elections. Hopefully the Conservatives will win both.
The ripple effect as described in this article is a serious problem for everyone, not just our industry. The Liberals with all of their scams and backroom deals are committing crimes against the public, although no charges will be laid. In other countries they would simply stage a military coup and be done with these guys. I consider myself a level headed guy but why does military coup actually sound good in this case?
One final thought. Isnt it about time the Federal Government steps in and investigates the Provincial Liberals? Afterall they are the only ones that can.
Arent they supposed to be backup protection in a case like this?
Georg Leber-ICR Racing
Every municipality in Ontario
Every municipality in Ontario needs to be aware that this can happen to them as well. Milton has already announced that without the Slots at Racetracks program in place, their taxes are estimated to increase by 22-25%!!! That's crazy!!!
PLEASE feel free to PRINT, DISTRIBUTE and SHARE this link (http://bit.ly/PTTyGh) to better help spread the word throughout Ontario of how beneficial the SAR program truly is.