On Monday, August 27, Essex MPP Taras Natyshak highlighted via release that the report from the OMAFRA Transition Panel concluded that the $50-million the government had proposed to support horse-racing industry transition is totally insufficient to ‘build a bridge to sustainability.’
The contents of Natyshak's release appear below.
NDP: Horseracing Panel says government transition funding is inadequate
QUEEN’S PARK – In light of the release of the interim report of the OMAFRA Horse Racing Transition panel, Essex MPP Taras Natyshak released the following statement:
“Late last week, the McGuinty government received a report from the OMAFRA Transition Panel which concluded that the $50-million the government had proposed to support industry transition is totally insufficient to ‘build a bridge to sustainability.’
“560 good-paying jobs will be lost in already hard-hit communities when this government closes the racetracks at Fort Erie, Sarnia, and Windsor. Thousands more jobs will be lost as the Slots at Racetracks Program is eliminated province-wide.
“Here is what the Panel said: ‘Without long-term financial assistance to the industry and given the withdrawal of over $1-billion in SARP funds over the same three-year period, the panel cannot deliver a model for sustainability or a gradual exit for those invested or employed in the industry.’
“This government needs to start giving the men and women in the horse racing industry the respect that they deserve and put together a transition plan that will allow for real sustainability. This government must table a transition plan to save the thousands of jobs and horses that its reckless elimination of the Slots program has put in danger”
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