(Queen’s Park, ON) – Today, Ontario PC Economic Development and Innovation Critic, Monte McNaughton, responded to concerns raised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Horse Racing Transition Panel, which found that the decision to end the Slots-At-Racetracks-Program will not only be devastating to Ontario’s economy, it will also result in 13,000 horses being euthanized in 2013.
"60 000 jobs are at risk. 17 race tracks will close. Now we find out 13,000 horses will be killed. All because of Dalton McGuinty's decision to pull the plug on Ontario’s horse racing industry," said McNaughton.
Like many decisions coming from the McGuinty government, consultation on this plan was limited. Local municipalities were not consulted and will now be losing an important source of revenue. The horse industry was not consulted and now risks being completely wiped-out. It is clear local horsemen and their horses will bear the brunt of this poorly thought-out decision, which seems to be the way Dalton McGuinty, Dwight Duncan and their government prefer to do business,” said McNaughton.
"The Ontario PC Party has been working hard to try to find a solution that will save thousands of jobs and protect the lives of the 26,000 horses involved in the horse racing industry. It's a sad day when the Minister of Agriculture and Liberal MPPs sit idly by and allow Dalton McGuinty to kill jobs and horses in Ontario,” said McNaughton.
