MPP Monte McNaughton Calls Cut to Horse Racing Funding “Shameful”
Horse Racing at Dresden Raceway
Those were the words of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton Monday after hearing the plan from Dalton McGuinty’s Liberal government to cut all funding provided to the horse racing industry through the Slots at Racetracks program by March 31, 2013.
While the Liberal plan aims to create 6,300 jobs by 2017-2018, those connected to the horse racing industry fear a majority of the 60,000 jobs associated with horse racing in Ontario could be lost as a direct result of the proposed restructuring of the OLG system, which includes canning the Slots at Racetracks program.
McNaughton, who represents the Lambton-Kent-Middlesex riding, which includes Dresden Raceway in Dresden, Ontario, continued by saying the move is “shocking,” and that the shift will simply compound the job loss Southwestern Ontario has felt in recent years,
“It’s shocking. There are 600,000 people unemployed in Ontario right now under Dalton McGuinty’s government. This action does nothing to solve Dalton’s job crisis in Ontario. Potentially, 60,000 people could lose jobs in the horse racing industry.”
“Southwestern Ontario has been harder hit with the loss of many manufacturing jobs,” said McNaughton. “It’s a slap in the face to Ontario citizens and those in the horse racing industry. He’s (McGuinty) forgot about rural Ontario.”
The Ontario government has directed the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) to implement a number of proposals including removing the Slots at Racetracks program, as well as reconfiguring the number of gaming sites and tailoring the types of gaming activities made available at each site, expanding the role of the private sector to increase operational efficiencies, allowing one new casino in the GTA, launching multi-lane sales of lottery tickets at major retail outlets, and implementing a new fee model for municipalities hosting gaming sites.
This year, the Slots at Racetracks program provided $345 million to the horse racing industry. According to Monte McNaughton, he and the Conservative party are prepared to fight to support the horse racing industry and to keep jobs in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, Southwestern Ontario, and across the Province,
“We are goig to fight like Hell to make sure the Dalton McGuinty government puts forward a serious jobs plan in order to deal with the massive debt. The issue is, we need a jobs plan from Dalton, we think he’s taking wrong approach. 60,000 people could lose their jobs, and Southwestern Ontario represents a large portion of folks in this industry.”
I repeat what I said on the other thread.
I have very mixed feeling about this. First it is going to pit rural against urban, which is kinda stupid of the Liberals right now. On balance I am for continuing to fund trainers and the industry, but I want to see much tighter controls on the racetrack owners. There seems to be a complete lack of accountability.
I do find it amusing that the Conservative opposition is up in arms about this. It is after all a perfect example of corporate welfare.
You are incorrect Michael. This is NOT corporate welfare. Corporate welfare is bailing out banks. This is maintaining a level of support that keeps people in the industry working. A corporate bailout would be government money given to a private sector business (eg. GM, Ford, etc, banks). This is a relationship that has benefited both sides and needs to continue.
I’m tired of Dalton McGuinty. Liberals want to spend spend spend to “create jobs.” They will create 5000 jobs and lose 10,000 in the process. Corporate bailout my ass.
I can’t accept this. I immigrated to Ontario because of the strong thoroughbred horse racing industry and bought a farm for 1.25 million dollars. I am planning to build a horse barn and a couple of kilometers of pasture fencing, but if the horse industry is losing it’s contract with the province for slots, I might have to reconsider my plans, sell the farm and take my money back to the States. Should I? Pennsylvania is ramping up the slots program and bringing in billions to the state while Ontario is cancelling it? Does this make sense for Ontario?