On Monday, September 23 in the Ontario Legislature, Windsor-Tecumseh NDP MPP Percy Hatfield asked Premier Kathleen Wynne to release the revenue numbers for Caesars Windsor and to bring slot-machine gaming back to the now-defunct Windsor Raceway.
The Ontario New Democratic Party issued a press release Monday in which it quoted Hatfield as asking Wynne, “Will this government re-open the slots at Windsor Raceway to breathe new life back into the provincial harness racing industry, get those 2,000 people back to work, and demonstrate to the people in this province, Premier, when you say it, you mean it when you stand up as you did repeatedly this morning and said that jobs are a priority to your government?”
The contents of the NDP release appear below.
Percy Hatfield calls on government to re-open slots at Windsor Raceway
Today Percy Hatfield, MPP for Windsor-Tecumseh, called on the Premier to come clean with revenue numbers from Caesars in Windsor and to re-open the slots at the Windsor Raceway.
“How much additional revenue has been realized at Caesar’s since the slots at the track were shut down and so many people, 2,000 people, were left without good-paying jobs in my community?” Hatfield asked.
When the provincial government shut down the slots at Windsor Raceway it led to the collapse of the harness racing industry in Windsor and Essex County and the loss of 2,000 jobs. The justification was that those who gambled at the track would gravitate to Caesars in downtown Windsor and do their gaming there. Prior to closing the slots at the Windsor Raceway, the government was taking in an estimated $8 million a year in profit from the Windsor Raceway track.
Hatfield said the Premier has had enough time to calculate numbers and should release the findings of her government’s experiment.
“There’s no shame in admitting you made a mistake, Premier. No shame whatsoever,” Hatfield said and called on the Premier to reverse her government’s ill-fated decision.
“Will this government re-open the slots at Windsor Raceway to breathe new life back into the provincial harness racing industry, get those 2,000 people back to work, and demonstrate to the people in this province, Premier, when you say it, you mean it when you stand up as you did repeatedly this morning and said that jobs are a priority to your government?”
I agree with what Mr Yamaka
I agree with what Mr Yamaka says in that you need fans and without the fans this industry is done with.i went to Leamington today and they had another huge crowd out and Will Yamaka knows why.
The only thing the Liberals
The only thing the Liberals care about is making their rich friends richer (campaign donators). The bingo halls and the lack of transparency in the slots deals with track owners sure proves it.
Mr Winning... its unfair of
Mr Winning...
its unfair of you to say she does not care about jobs in an industry that on a regular basis, does not generate nearly enough revenue to support itself. She is looking at the best deal for the province from the slots, and really, they only support horseman (in terms of the revenue supporting jobs). Slot revenue does not create a single job for race fans, or people totally not interested in harness at all.
Think about your own comment, if she is doing tearing apart harness racing to "save liberal seats", that means the public is doing what she is asked.
Really, you should be going after John Q Public to 1) not vote her in if you think she will never change her mind 2) get involved in your game.
All these complaints about the government need to be directed towards the fans, because with or without the government, you need fans/gamblers. Most of your comments, are about politicians, and it is like your biggest priority in fixing this, is making sure you get yours. Us the fans, are FAR more important to a SPORTING industry. You would not know that around here. Most of these comments, are about the owners, and the government. Show me a single sport, that the fans are the LEAST talked about people in making a sport vibrant?
Ms Powell..... this was once a great industry.... but all of you, the race tracks, the owners and trainers, the media, did nothing to keep it that way.
As a race fan, it is insulting that most of these comments, are about you the horseman and what you are not getting from the slots.
Me, the horse player..... have NEVER got a single cent from the slots. I have been taxed out the wazoo by betting on your product. That does not matter..... lets just make sure the horseman that race in front of empty grandstands in an over saturated market survive.
Thinking out Loud There is a
Thinking out Loud
There is a voice for Windsor raceway or is this an echo that I am hearing. It would be great if all the tracks in Ontario could stay open. This track in particular would of been a great track today if only the people years ago would of obtained it. I feel the best group of people to bring out the best of harness racing for the fans would be the Lakeshore group. If I had a bucket list for these individuals: I would put them in charge of Windsor raceway.
(I'llHaveAnother - Ontario Needs Racing)
Mr. Hatfield , I and many
Mr. Hatfield , I and many others appreciate your efforts on behalf of the people of Essex county. However, premier Kathleen Wynne does not care about jobs for the people of Ontario. Industry is fleeing the province of Ontario for many reasons. The only thing she cares about is saving Liberal seats. She will do anything to accomplish this. She is not going to disclose the state of the Casino in Windsor, because she and the olg (Rod Phillips) do not know. They have no idea. Just thinking, sincerely Bruce T. Winning
Hooray for Mr. Hatfield. Does
Hooray for Mr. Hatfield. Does anyone really think that she was listening or cares about this once great industry? I don't and I know the horse people in Windsor sure don't.