A release from the Liberal government on Thursday, June 7th officially announced
the transitional fund established to “help the horse racing industry transition from
the Slots at Racetracks program to a more sustainable, self-sufficient
model.”
Consultations will be led by a panel of three former cabinet ministers —
Elmer Buchanan, John Snobelen and John Wilkinson. The panel will:
- Work with the industry to help develop a vision for the future.
- Provide recommendations to the government on how to allocate transition
funding. - Advise on the modernization of other industry revenue sources to assist the
industry in becoming more self-sufficient. - A final report from the panel is expected in late summer 2012.
“Our government understands that ending the Slots at Racetracks program and
responding to market demands poses a challenge for everyone involved in the
horse racing industry. That’s why we are committed to helping the industry move
toward greater self-sufficiency without government support,” offered Dwight
Duncan, Minister of Finance.
According to the release Ontario will provide up to $50 million over three
years in transition support to the industry, and Employment Ontario will help
displaced workers in the industry find jobs and training.
Consultations on Transition of Ontario Horse Racing
Industry
The government has committed to working collaboratively with the horse racing
industry as it transitions to a self-sustained business model and creates a
vision for its future. To assist with this transition, the government has asked
an expert panel of three former Ontario Cabinet Ministers, Elmer Buchanan, John
Snobelen and John Wilkinson, to consult with the industry to determine how the
government can support the transition of the sector, including the allocation of
up to $50 million in program funding.
The panel issued the following group statement:
We are happy to have the opportunity to work alongside the industry and
provide them with our support as they develop a vision for their future. We
recognize that the horse racing industry is at a crossroad and has challenging
decisions to make as it considers its future opportunities. We look forward to
hearing from stakeholders on their needs and priorities, so that decisions can
be made on how to best assist the industry during this time of transition toward
self-sustainability. To help inform our recommendations, we invite stakeholders
to submit comments. We are particularly interested on the following identified
areas of concern:
- Specific challenges businesses in the industry are facing during this time
of transition - Specific issues facing displaced workers and their training needs
- Specific suggestions on the delivery and allocation of transition funding
- Specific suggestions or considerations regarding equine welfare
Individuals and groups are encouraged to channel thoughts and ideas through
your industry associations during the consultation period.
Following the consultation period, the Panel expects to provide
recommendations in a final report to government by late Summer.
Please submit comments below, email horseracingtransition@ontario.ca,
use the Panel feedback form or mail to:
Horse Racing Industry
Transition
c/o Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food & Rural Affairs
1
Stone Road West
2nd Floor
Guelph, Ontario
N1G4Y2
The consultations will be led by a panel of three former cabinet ministers —
Elmer Buchanan, John Snobelen and John Wilkinson.
Elmer Buchanan served as Ontario Minister of Agriculture from 1990 to 1995
and represented the riding of Hastings — Peterborough as a Member of Provincial
Parliament. Mr. Buchanan currently sits on the board of the Ontario Farm
Products Marketing Commission and raises alpacas and angora goats on his
Havelock, Ontario family farm.
John Snobelen is an internationally renowned horseman and was inducted into
the National Reining Horse Association Hall of Fame in 1994. He served as
Minister of Education and Minister of Natural Resources and represented the
riding of Mississauga North and Mississauga West as a Member of Provincial
Parliament from 1995 to 2003. Mr. Snobelen is president of Beyond Consensus
Inc., a firm specializing in conflict resolution.
John Wilkinson was first elected in 2003 as Member of Provincial Parliament
for Perth-Middlesex. In 2007, he was re-elected as MPP for Perth-Wellington. The
first Certified Financial Planner to sit in the Ontario Legislature, he was
named to the provincial cabinet in 2007. He served as Minister of Research and
Innovation, then as Minster of Revenue and subsequently as Minister of the
Environment. During his tenure he implemented Ontario’s Innovation Agenda, was
responsible for the largest tax reform package in four decades and was
responsible for the passage of the Ontario Water Opportunities and Water
Conservation Act. Currently, Mr. Wilkinson is the President & CEO of
Wilkinson Insight Incorporated of Stratford.
PANEL
OHRIA welcomes the formal announcement that OMAFRA (Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) has established a panel to work with the
industry to move forward with a plan that will insure the long-term viability of
a successful horse racing and breeding industry in Ontario.
The creation of the panel is the result of weeks of effort by OHRIA to
identify the appropriate point person or persons in government with whom it can
engage in these much-needed discussions.
“We are encouraged that the government has put OMAFRA on point to hold these
discussions that are long overdue,” says Sue Leslie, president of OHRIA. “We
take this as an indication that the government is recognizing the value that our
industry brings to Ontario’s agricultural economy and to the public in general.
However, it is not transitional funding that is needed but a long-term funding
plan that will insure a vibrant industry in the future. This is a long awaited
step but there are many more steps ahead.”
OHRIA recently announced the creation of a Task Force for this purpose and
that it has retained Stanley Sadinsky to assist it in developing a proposal on
behalf of the industry that will lead to a sustainable industry. The Task Force
will report to the Board of OHRIA by the end of June for consideration and
ultimate approval of its plan.
“Time is of the essence in developing a picture of what industry revenues and
plans will look like for 2013 and beyond,” says Leslie. “The breeding sector, in
particular, is feeling the immediate impact of the uncertainties regarding
industry programs that are designed to promote the breeding and sale of Ontario
racehorses. Buyer confidence is now at an all time low and it is essential to
provide clarity before the September sales, clarity that will encourage buyers
to continue to invest in Ontario bred horses.”
Sue Leslie
OHRIA President and Chair
