Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman, opposition critic for agriculture, food and rural affairs, has gone on the record as dismissing Ontario Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ted McMeekin's claims that the OMAFRA Panel's interim report on the provincial horse-racing industry supports the end of the province's widely-successful slots-at-racetracks program.
An article by The Brantford Expositor has quoted Hardeman as saying that, “When I first read the report, I was quite taken aback, having first heard the minister’s comments about how everything was fine and he was going to find a way to solve the problem. The panel says, 'no we can’t solve the problem unless you can come up with more money.'”
Hardeman was also quoted as saying, “The report, at the end of it — the part that the minister didn’t mention — the opinion of the panel was there was no way to transition with $50 million. There is no way to transition the industry over. If something else isn’t done, the industry is gone.”
The panel's final report is expected by the end of September.
(With files from The Brantford Expositor)
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• OMAFRA Interim Report Released; OHRIA Issues Response
More and more there is a
More and more there is a basis for a massive class action law-suit that may be in line for the blatant destruction of this industry. Most of us didn't need the panel to say the industry will be destroyed.
Chuck Ibey
I know I am as frustrated as
I know I am as frustrated as everyone with the continuing blasphemy spweing out of McGuinty's mouth about the SAR being a subsidy. A big chunk of my pay cheque goes to this same government. Is it a subsidy or a revenue sharing arrangement? Because it sure feels like a subsidy. And just what am I and millions of other taxpayers subsidizing? Billions of dollars of government waste! We have gone over the billions of wasted dollars by this government in a vain attempt to keep in power. But like Henry Kissinger said, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely". How quickly we have forgotten the OHIP tax that this same government perpetrated on the people of this once great Province. It was done so deviously that even today, very few people are aware that they are paying between $300 and $900 every year in taxes for OHIP alone. I am tired of subsidizing a government that has no respect for the taxpayer and willing to jeopardize the financial future of our children just to stay in power. McGuinty is practicing economic genocide to the future generations. If he were a military junta, we could accuse him of treason, but I submit that his administration is guilty of economic treason against every taxpayer in the Province of Ontario and the future generations to come. Is this what the brave men and women of our armed forces are fighting for? I think not. He has diminished us all and if he had one iota of honesty or courage, he would leave.
McMeekin, I have lived in the
McMeekin,
I have lived in the Flamborough area for over 30 yrs and grew up thinking McMeekin was the man who stood up for the little guy. Be it when he was fighting with the Municipalities to stop them from swallowing up the surrounding small towns for amalgamation.
But now I see he has given up his personal abilities to make his own decisions on matters that directly effect the livelihood of the people who voted him into his position, to turn to the dark side as a Liberal Puppet.
Thank you and God Bless democracy.
The Liberals got what they
The Liberals got what they wanted out of this report and that is that SARP is a SUBSIDY. They know fully well that with the current economic climate in the province that they can't sell a subsidy to the GENERAL PUBLIC and VOILA the job is done. Bring in the U.S. casinos AND BYE BYE RACE INDUSTRY.