In the following letter to Brian
Tropea, President of the Ontario Harness and Horse
Association (OHHA), OPSEU President, Warren (Smokey)
Thomas, expresses deep concern for the McGuinty
government’s restructuring and privatization of the
horse racing industry. OPSEU has received “thanks
from all 65,000 of us” in return from the OHHA.
March 14, 2012
Brian Tropea
President of Ontario Harness Horse Association
35 Crawford Crescent
Campbellville, Ontario
L0P 1B0
Dear Brian,
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me
today. The information you and Ken Hardy
provided filled in our understanding about this
important matter.
As President of the Ontario Public Service
Employees Union (OPSEU), I have the privilege
and responsibility of representing 130,000
members across this province. Most services that
contribute to the quality of life in Ontario are
provided (in whole or in part) by OPSEU members.
OPSEU members work at both the Windsor Raceway
and Rideau Carleton racetracks.
We join you in deep concern over the McGuinty
government’s attack on the horse racing
industry. How can the elimination of over
60,000 horseracing jobs possibly benefit
Ontario’s financial situation? More shocking is
the government’s failure to have a sustainable
plan to replace these jobs or retrain those
about to be laid off. Many of these people have
spent their life in this industry and will
likely never find other employment.
The government’s action is an assault on rural
Ontario. It cannot go unchallenged.
Finance Minister Dwight Duncan described the
partnership between your organization and the
OLG as a subsidy. He has spun this into a
conflict between wealthy race track owners
against health care and education. This is an
untruth.
To have a future based on quality public
services and prosperity rather than austerity
Ontario must focus on retaining and increasing
employment. This was underlined in a letter to
the Premier I recently co-authored with Wayne
Fraser, Director of District 6 Steelworkers. We
proposed a round table meeting with business,
labour and government so that together, the
groups that make Ontario work could respectfully
develop an industrial strategy, designed to
ensure a future economy where many (not few)
would participate and prosper
The recent OLG announcement to close tracks and
privatize is another short term cash grab. The
Liberals fail to recognize that Ontario’s
financial crisis is based on a lack of revenue,
rather than just an excess of spending. The
revenue problem can only be addressed by a fair,
progressive and responsive tax system. By
addressing the revenue side Ontario can develop
a balanced approach to emerge from debt and
deficit.
Government’s plan to move casinos to urban
centres is more than an assault on the horse
industry. It shows that the Liberals have no
problem preying on the needy, vulnerable and
retired who throw money into casino slot
machines and games with the dream of hitting it
big. Shame!
As OPSEU builds working class and community
coalitions across this province, I look forward
to working with you and your team.
It’s coming down to the wire, but though
teamwork longshots can come through. I’m betting
on the people.
Sincerely,
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President
Ontario Public Service Employees Union
RELATED:
McGuinty
closes Ontario raceway slots leaving hundreds unemployed
March 14, 2012 Slot machine facilities at Windsor
Raceway, Fort Erie and Hiawatha Horse Park in Sarnia are being permanently
closed at the end of March, 2012, leaving hundreds without jobs..
more…
OPSEU President
interview on slot facility closures
March 15, 2012 CityNews Toronto Video: OPSEU
President Warren (Smokey) Thomas spoke to CityNews after the OLG announced that
slot machines will shut down at three border racetracks.
Watch the video
