Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece, horse racing critic for the Progressive Conservative opposition, questioned the government about a 19-year funding agreement he says it is forcing on the Ontario horse racing industry – just before the start of an election campaign.
“The Liberal government is trying to strong-arm the horse racing industry into accepting a deal that might hurt them in the long-run,” said the MPP during question period in the legislature.
“Why is this government playing politics with horse people’s livelihoods, and pressuring them to sign onto a 19-year agreement in the final weeks before an election?”
A press release from Pettapiece’s office explains that in 2012 the Liberal government cancelled the Slots at Racetrack program, “causing major damage and job losses” in the industry.
According to Pettapiece, the government is once again imposing an agreement negotiated in secret without giving horse people a chance to provide meaningful input.
He says the arbitrary May 1 cutoff only makes matters worse.
“What happens if one or more racetracks refuse to sign?” asked Pettapiece. “Will the government cut off their funding?”
In his response agriculture minister Jeff Leal said: “when you have insight in the horse racing industry in Ontario, it works on a cycle”; he further claimed: “anything shorter than 19 years, you don’t have the confidence in the industry.”
