Jan Mowbray for Halton NDP

The death knell of horseracing in Ontario

Good article in today's Star by Dave Perkins:  "If you want to kill a sport once and for all, take a lesson from the Ontario government. What our elected assassins have done to horse racing is the new template for sport execution." 

I believe the majority of people just don't get it - read the rest of Perkins' article:   http://www.thestar.com/sports/2013/02/15/government_slowly_killing_off_horse_racing_in_ontario.html

Needing to purchase one more gift? I have a suggestion

On a new tangent today....
In order to maintain my ability to volunteer, I work at a part-time job.  As anyone knows, it isn't cheap being a volunteer with the cost of gas to travel to meetings and events, the cost to buy tickets to attend those events, memberships to belong to the organizations for whom one volunteers and so on it goes....

I started a new sales career with the Amway line.  I used to sell Amway way back in the mid 70's and my, oh my, has the product line changed in the intervening years!  Amway products were always "green" but are even greener now.  The product line has expanded to include makeup, healthcare products, gift cards, as well as an growing laundry product line (especially good for those on septic systems) and a whole lot more.  Check out my website for the full product line.

If you haven't finished your shopping yet, the gift cards are unique.  You decide how much you want to spend - your recipients gets the gift card and booklet - no prices or values are shown anywhere.  The recipient selects what they want, and it's delivered to their home.

Read more here. I have the $35 dollar card on hand now for the special price of $30 each if you buy one.  Buy 5 and you pay only $140 (that's $28 each). 

It begins at Home

This is an excellent article from Burlington Mayor, Rick Goldring's blog.  I've copied it here in its entirety.

A good place to start

Many of us have heard the story unfolding in the U.S. election campaign about Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney referring to 47 per cent of the U.S. population as receiving some form of social assistance and government entitlements. In a speech to a small group of loyal supporters he commented this group made no contributions to society.

Regardless of who wins the U.S. election, a significant portion of the country will vote for Mitt Romney and his party.

While in Burlington we are not directly affected by the outcome of the American election, and while we are all entitled to our own ideological views, the lack of empathy in this story is a real concern for me. It reflects a lack of compassion that has developed in our society and our own community as well.
The make-up of society is always changing. Changes in our economy and demographic generate much of this change as ebbs and flows create different circumstances. The gap between the wealthiest and the poorest is alarming.

As an example, my generation was able to go to university and fund their education. A summer job could pay tuition and books. Today, most young people do not have the same opportunity. Tuition rates are through the roof and young people borrow tens of thousands of dollars to get the education we desperately need them to acquire to be part of a competitive society.

The province is under tremendous pressure to restructure financially. Healthcare and social services are under pressure. There are significant outstanding liabilities for pensions and infrastructure. If we do not deal with these challenges, we will be passing on to our children a society in worse shape than when it was handed to us, leaving bills to be paid.

On the employment front, we struggle to see the job generation we need. It is difficult to pay off student loans at minimum wage, never mind becoming part of the active economy.

We live in the second best place to live in Canada, according to MoneySense magazine. That does not mean it is the best place for everyone.

Our community continues to have a 9-10 per cent poverty rate. Burlington is faced with the same social challenges as other cities — mental health, addiction, violence against women, gender equity, unemploy- ment, underemployment, affordable housing, youth and immigrant opportunities, support for those with disabilities and many others.

Many try and help, financially or through volunteerism. Our many non-profit organizations do excellent work to try to make a difference.

We can all contribute by being empathetic. Remember there are many in our community who need support — your neighbours, colleagues, friends at school and family members. Showing empathy for others is a good place to start.

I guess it's a case of putting panels together until you get the results you want. The results of a new government-appointed panel has been announced.  Unlike the panel appointed in 2008, which unanimously supported Slots at the Racetrack Program (SARP) and took a year for their consultations, this panel says to cancel SARP - after barely two months work.  I'm totally surprised because I believe OMAFRA to be one of the best government bodies in Ontario.  If you're so inclined, you can read the report here:  http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/about/transition/interimreport08172012.htm#slots

In 2007, the province appointed a 3-person strategic planning panel to develop a strategic vision for the Ontario Horse Racing and Breeding Industry.  “The Panel was charged with the task of examining the state of the horse racing and breeding industry (hereinafter referred to as “the industry”) and the development of a strategic vision and direction that identifies the challenges and opportunities that the industry faces, within the current gaming environment, in order to best ensure its continued growth in the future.”

While suggesting some change, the report said: “The Panel fully supports the continuation of the Slots at Racetracks Program at a minimum level of 20% of the revenue generated from slot machines at the racetracks. However, we also recommend that the Program be adjusted to better meet the objectives of enhancing wagering on Ontario product and enhancing the breeding of Ontario racehorses.”

Nowhere was it suggested that Slots at the Racetrack be canceled.  So what happened in the interim?

That government-appointed “Panel consulted with industry stakeholders, government ministries and agencies and other interested parties for input on all of the Terms of Reference and on any other matter that the Panel should consider. Without exception, all parties exhibited an unwavering commitment to the well being of the industry and its future within the broader gaming and entertainment markets.” (All bolding and Italics are mine.)

When the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Assoc (OHRIA)was created in 1994 it was estimated that there were 24000 jobs related to the industry, and was the 3^rd largest sector in the overall agricultural economy of Ontario.  It was also known that these jobs were largely unskilled labour and would be difficult to replace.  So, consider the comments that these people, who have never known another job, could be retrained for something else, and that the government would allocate $51million for re-training.  If we extrapolate that amount for the 51,000 minimum who will be affected today, that translates to $1000 per person.  I can’t imagine the kind of training that would provide.

 “While the stated objectives of the Slots at Racetracks Program (the “Program”) referred to the enhancement of live racing, sustaining the agricultural sector and the generation of revenue for general provincial purposes, clear benchmarks were not put in place to monitor its benefit to the industry. Rather, the government rushed forward to open slot facilities at racetracks as quickly as it could.”  So, rather than put benchmarks in place, rather than renegotiating the agreement, the government has decided to cut the program entirely and put an estimated 51,000 people out of work, thus destroying a vital rural agricultural economy.  

My grandmother would have called it cutting off its nose to spite its face.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HORSE RACING AND BREEDING INDUSTRY ON THE ECONOMY OF ONTARIO

“The most recent analysis by HLT Advisory (January, 2008, Vol. II, Sec. 3) used the spending of revenues minus operating expenses approach to measure the economic contribution of the industry. Overall, the industry had net revenues of $641M, including revenues from slots, available in 2006 for initial expenditure.”

This next is a very long quote but bears inclusion: “It should be recognized that many of these jobs are part-time in nature. As such, many more than 24,569 Ontarians count on the industry for part or all of their livelihood.  

"In a recent study by Economics Research Limited (ERL), September 2007, it was estimated that between 25,000 and 30,000 Ontarians are engaged in the ‘equine side’ of the industry on a paid or unpaid basis. These full time equivalent jobs equate to 48,750 full time, part time and casual opportunities. ERL also concludes that with employment from the slot operations at the racetracks included, 40,040 Ontarians owe their permanent full-time jobs to the industry and its associated activities. 

ERL calculates that when part-time and casual labour is included, over 65,000 Ontarians rely on the industry and its related activities for some or all of their employment. Using this model, the approximately 24,500 full time equivalent jobs cited in the HLT report would equate to a total of approximately 40,000 full time, part time and casual jobs. Were one to include the employment sustained by the slot operations at the racetracks, approximately 55,000 Ontarians have jobs in the industry and its related activities.

Again, it’s worth repeating, those stats are for 2008.  The numbers would have to be much higher in 2012.

Read the whole report here: http://www.ontla.on.ca/library/repository/mon/22000/283847.pdf