Premier’s horse racing statement in Elora falls short
NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2013
Premier’s horse racing statement in Elora falls
short, MPP Arnott says
(Queen’s Park) – Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott rose in the Ontario Legislature on
March 19 to once again focus attention on the plight of the Ontario horse racing industry and to
respond to Premier Kathleen Wynne’s recent announcement at the Grand River Raceway in
Elora.
On March 8, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne visited Elora to announce that the Ontario
Government had reached tentative transition funding agreements with 4 race tracks – including
Grand River Raceway – to ensure race dates for the 2013 season.
However, Mr. Arnott argued that the Premier’s photo-op raised many questions.
“The Premier’s announcement on the future of horseracing in Ontario, a few days ago, was a
belated effort that fell short of providing details and the long term certainty the industry needs to
ensure its future in the coming years,” Mr. Arnott told the Legislature.
“It does not atone for the fact that one year ago this very month, without consultation or an
honest economic impact analysis, the Liberal Government showed callous disregard for the tens
of thousands of families whose livelihoods are, one way or another, dependent on the industry,”
Mr. Arnott continued.
Mr. Arnott noted that Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak and the PC Caucus have consistently stood
up for the horse racing industry and highlighted the party’s latest white paper: Paths to
Prosperity: Respect for Rural Ontario.
“In that document, amongst other ideas to seize the opportunities of the future, we recommend
new partnerships which serve to strengthen the horse racing industry and allow it to thrive, not
tear it apart,” said Mr. Arnott.
A copy of the white paper can be found on the Ontario PC website at: https://www.ontariopc.com/
(Attached: Text of Mr. Arnott’s statement in the Ontario Legislature, March 19, 2013)
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Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
Text of Mr. Arnott’s statement in the Ontario Legislature, March 19, 2013
The Premier’s announcement on the future of horseracing in Ontario, a few days ago, was a
belated effort that fell short of providing details and the long term certainty the industry needs to
ensure its future in the coming years.
That she chose to come to Elora for the photo-op, did however demonstrate, that the
Government recognizes the Grand River Raceway as the “premier” track in the Province.
That, and the Government’s promise to integrate horseracing into the province’s overall gaming
strategy allows us to plan for the coming year.
But it does not atone for the fact that one year ago this very month, without consultation or an
honest economic impact analysis, the Liberal Government showed callous disregard for the tens
of thousands of families whose livelihoods are, one way or another, dependent on the industry.
I want to acknowledge the hard work of my colleagues in the Ontario PC Caucus on this issue,
working with our Leader Tim Hudak, as well as advocacy of the County of Wellington, and the
local municipalities in Wellington-Halton Hills.
Working together, we have supported the people in the horseracing industry, and these
combined efforts have forced the Government to implicitly acknowledge the huge mistake they
made.
But last week, the Member for Oxford demonstrated his vision for a better future for rural Ontario
when, along with our Leader and other Members of the PC Caucus, we released “Paths to
Prosperity: Respect for Rural Ontario.”
In that document, amongst other ideas to seize the opportunities of the future, we recommend
new partnerships which serve to strengthen the horse racing industry and allow it to thrive, not
tear it apart.
That Mr. Speaker, is the promise of the future, with a Progressive Conservative Government
soon restoring good government to our beloved province.