Longtime Liberal MP and harness racing supporter Hector Clouthier says that Premier Dalton McGuinty's comments pertaining to horse racing this past week are "as wrong as can be."
In a release issued on Thursday night, Clouthier states that the Premier should be "embarrassed by his reprehensible remarks" and that his words are "regrettable." The full release appears below.
The comments made by Premier Dalton McGuinty at his press conference announcing the date of two byelections are inexcusable, indefensible and insidious!
When the Premier says, "The P.C.'s for example, they would put money into horse racing before full-day kindergarten," he is as wrong as wrong can be. He is preaching petty, partisan politics and Dalton McGuinty should be embarrassed by his reprehensible remarks. The fact of the matter is that the slots-at-racetracks (SAR) partnership between the province of Ontario and the horse racing industry puts over $1 billion dollars a year into the provincial treasury and that money supports education (including full day kindergarten), health care, infrastructure etc. Dalton McGuinty is playing politics at its worst because he knows full well that his own government is the benefactor of the SAR yet he disavows the partnership thinking he will gain politically by slamming the horse racing industry. His words are regrettable but he would not be the first politician to play fast and loose with the facts when looking for political gain.
He could be in for a surprise because he is bleeding support from all over the political spectrum. Whether it is the ORNGE Air Ambulance fiasco, the E-Health mess, the Green Energy boondoggle or blowing $190 million moving a gas plant for partisan gain the voters are sensing his government is in disarray.
Most are aware that I am a former Liberal M.P. and know Dalton McGuinty very well but that does not mean I blindly follow him and his governments' agenda. To say that I am disappointed with their performance would be a gross understatement!
Most are also aware that I have been involved with harness racing in one capacity or another all my life having inherited the love of horse racing from my Dad, although to be honest it is my sister Sandra Burns who has the real passion and is far more knowledgeable than I when it comes to training a horse .
Sandra knew that I was engaged in quiet diplomacy with the Premier and Finance ministers' offices because I thought at the end of the day common sense would prevail. I know she was confronted and took some heat from more than a few horsepeople demanding that I get involved but at my request she said nothing of my intervention (thanks Sandra) because I did not want anything to jeopardize the discussions.
Yet, with Dalton McGuinty's not-so-subtle broadside against the industry at his press conference it is evident the Liberal government is determined to undermine the horse racing industry in Ontario. I could go on and on vis-a-vis the negatives attached to the government agenda and the positives attached to the slots-at-racetracks partnership but the best way to send a major message to the government is to support the Conservative candidates in the upcoming byelections. It is my intent to do so and I encourage all participants in the horse racing industry to get involved because our future depends on it!
Way to go Hector! you are a
Way to go Hector! you are a class act each year I see you at the Horsemen's tournament and you followed suit with the postive comments.Thanks for standing up for the industry and hope to see you this year on the ice.
Hello you wonderful horse
Hello you wonderful horse people :). Wake-up call! News Flash!! Your criminal, lying government politicians couldn't give a HORSEBALL about you or your "livelihood" OR your animals!
NOBODY (in their RIGHT MIND) would forfeit a billion dollars a year. "Mcguinty should be embarassed"?? HA! These guys are Liars and Deceivers! These politicians should be used to drag the tracks!! This creepy little agenda has been in the makings for a long time. I tell you to face these facts. It is us who are responsible for OUR lives: Stop relying on crooked politicians!
YOU are the masters of your OWN domain(and barn) and they are screwing with yours!!! This is about your LIFE, your Livelihood, and these manipulators are destroying it. For your horses sake, if not your family sake DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! We have the numbers...what's wrong with everybody? Are y'all that dumbed down and weak?
Brandie
PS Everyone involved in this sport,thru the years... from vets to blacksmiths to the "Hay guys" to drivers/trainers/grooms..all wonderful, dedicated people. My Dad is now 90, with one horse racing and we call it his "last kick at the can".
Come on people, let's fight!!!!
ANY government official that
ANY government official that would support or initiate any measures that would DAMAGE or DESTROY any business or INDUSTRY that makes LARGE amounts of MONEY for the GOVERNMENT should be brought up on criminal charges and BANNED from holding office for the rest of their lives!!!!!!!
Further, any loss of jobs in the horse industry would actually put more of a financial burden on the government in the form of more people that would need assistance if they were to lose their source of employment due to a cutback in the equine industry!!!!!!!
If the goverment of CANADA wants to take a step forward they must give their FULL SUPPORT to the horse racing industry and all of the agricultural components of the horse industry that is responsible for putting HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY INTO THE GOVERNMENT'S ACCOUNTS!!!!!!!
Mr. Clouthier you are right
Mr. Clouthier you are right on the money. The government in their presentation of the issue has been deceitful. They have stated and implied time and again that they are subsidizing the industry when in fact they were enjoined in a partnership which benefited the citizens of Ontario annually to the tune of $1.3 billion in 2011- a greater return than all of the other OLG products combined.
Mr. McGinty and his ministers have consistently refused to come to the table with the facts and a cost neefit anaylsis to support those facts and are dealing an unfair blow to an incredible industry and directly to 55,000 families in rural Ontario. The question that I have is WHY and TO WHOSE BENEFIT IS THIS ACTION? I just don't get it.
We had things lined up to
We had things lined up to flood the 401 from Windsor to Toronto and Sudbury to Toronto months ago. I was even on the radio saying that we were going to do this. We had union and farm support aswell but were advised against it because it would get the public mad at us so we didn't do it. Well, like I said then, we need to piss of the public to get their attention to make the aware of what we are actually facing here.
Give Em HEC!
Give Em HEC!
McGuinty's lies and
McGuinty's lies and distortions of the truth (at this weeks news conference) are a good indication as to how the Liberal Government will react to ANY proposals put forth by the Horse Racing Industry. The by-elections are less than a month away and the Liberals MUST be defeated ... at which point McGuinty (in his arrogance) will likely call an election.
Why would anyone vote Liberal based on their current record (OLG scandal, E-Health, ORNGE, green energy fiasco, gas plant closure - wasting $190 million of taxpayers money).... and finally, detroying Ontario's Horse Racing Industry to help out American Casino Operators and their (the Liberals) Bingo Hall friends.
All right Butch! Way to tell
All right Butch! Way to tell em buddy!! We're all very proud of you!
Thank you Hector, your
Thank you Hector, your pragmatism, industry knowledge and eloquence are major assets in the horse racing arsenal. Give em Hec!
Greg Park is right,why do you
Greg Park is right,why do you THink companies pay big bucks to advertise their product on TV,BECAUSE IT GETS OUT TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. SC.OHHA, and the rest of horse people associations, what is it you do not understand, your future is in the balance,get your Documentations on TV, esspecialy at NEWS HOUR.The clock is ticking. Don't be like the HARE and the TURTLE, we all know what happended there. Have a good day. MI ACULPAS, MI ACULPAS, MI ACULPAS.( IT DIED(SAR)FOR WANT OF HELP.
In reply to Greg Park is right,why do you by ronboy7
So true. Horsepeople know
So true. Horsepeople know what the hell is going on. The public needs to be informed. Many of us have been saying that since the beginning but little seems to be done to get to the masses. Billboards here and there won't do the job. More people watch the news on tv than read newspapers. With the tremendous cost of what has been done to date, one would think that more of the public sector would know what is going on. It's time to start the real fight for our industry's future if we really want one.
In reply to So true. Horsepeople know by Lynne Magee
Two hundred horses blocking
Two hundred horses blocking the Gardiner at Spadina every day for a month would be all over the news. The public would be pissed but with proper PR spinning it could be directed at McGuinty. The people who don't know that this is an industry that employs 60,000 people don't read this forum. Adding an hour to the rush hour commute got my attention when the Sommalians did it. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has non-racing friends who are shocked when I explain what is happening. Somehow the word needs to get out there.
How commendable for Mr.
How commendable for Mr. Clouthier to put what is right before his political affiliation. As a strong Liberal, he can see that what is happening to Ontario racing (and to rural, agricultural Ontario which will impact the urban centres) is so completely wrong and is encouraging people to vote against his own party to save an industry that contributes over 3 billion to the economy each year. There may be a glimmer of hope at the end of that long, dark tunnel of doom. Thank you for speaking out Mr. Clouthier.
Hector, I know you'll be
Hector,
I know you'll be reading this column and, for old times sake - This time, hands down, "You are the WINNER" Thank You for risking your neck on everyone's behalf. I sincerely hope everyone follows suit. We both know the industry is very close to the wire.
Howard
There has been so much
There has been so much wonderful information presented on this website, people have really put a lot of work into it.
Just a thought, John Q Public really needs to see this and understand how it affects them. Instead of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on PR firms, why is there not hundreds of thousands of dollars going into newspaper ads,radio ads, daily!!!!
Why are you not getting TV time for some of the wonderful little documentary's that have been made?
Everything has been done for you for free, why are you not using yuor resources wisely.
Great piece Mr. Clouthier
Greg Parke
McGuinty's recent comments
McGuinty's recent comments were totally predictable. Unfortunately, most people in Ontario have no idea how inaccurate these comments are. Quiet diplomacy, letters to the editor and comments to this forum do very little to inform the public at large. Bringing Toronto traffic to a stop during rush hour every day for a month would get the attention of the public. Two hundred horses blocking the Gardiner at Spadina would do the trick. Extreme action is needed before time runs out.
Thank-you Mr. Clouthier.
Thank-you Mr. Clouthier. Beyond the obvious, it is clear that the support must go to the Conservatives in these two byelections. When we are encouraged to support the Conservatives by a veteran Liberal MP with a vast knowledge of the industry, any hesitation or concern by anyone regarding the SAR issue should now be crystal clear. The Premier's remarks were disgusting!!
Well spoken Mr Clouthier!
Well spoken Mr Clouthier!
This message is well intended , coming from a man who has experienced both sides of the track. Someone who is not afraid to swim to the other side of the river for something he believes is right.
THANK YOU SIR:IN MY OPPINION
THANK YOU SIR:IN MY OPPINION HE MEANT MY WIFE IS AN EDUCATOR and we will both be happy to retire with nice pensions..In his talk on the radio show he said the liberal party in ONTARIO in the BI ELECTIONS Sept 6 is putting all their resources (money) into making sure the opposition is defeated , so that we have the majority of seats to finish the job ...ONTARIANS want the debt and deficit reduced ..the interest on the debt is now the third largest expense next to education and health care.He doesn't know why we are so worried about the horse industry and the possibility horses will be euthanized , or sold for peanuts or go for editable food! JUST LIKE : GONE WITH THE WIND : FRANKLY HORSE PEOPLE I DON'T GIVE A DAXX...YOURS TRULY DALTON.......TK