It has been reported that Northumberland-Quinte West MPP Rob Milligan has been actively urging council members to provide feedback to the Ontario horse racing transitional panel. “They’re looking to listen to any ideas, what I’m looking for is feedback from yourselves,” he has been quoted as telling Councillors.
The Northhumberland News has quoted Milligan as saying that he believes the Ontario Liberals have "mishandled" the current slots-at-racetracks issue. Although, Milligan did express that it must be positively noted that the reigning provincial party has assembled a panel of former agricultural ministers to study the future of Ontario's vast racing sector.
The report has also cited Hamilton Township Mayor Mark Lovshin as saying that the Ontario horse racing industry should have been given more time to make the adjustment away from the slots-at-racetracks program, and that it will be tough for racing industry workers to transition into new lines of work.
The piece has also cited Alnwick/Haldimand Township Mayor Dalton McDonald as saying that the situation is "serious stuff," and that a negative "chain reaction" will occur if the Liberals stay their course in regard to the Ontario horse-racing industry.
(With files from Northhumberland News)