Peroni: Bring back Slots at Racetracks Program

In the wake of news that Sudbury Downs has officially cancelled the 2014 racing season, Sudbury Progressive Conservative candidate Paula Peroni is calling on the province to restore the Slots at Racetracks Program (SARP).

The program's cancellation “marked the beginning of the end of the horse-racing industry” in Ontario, she said.

“The Sudbury Downs racing season was officially cancelled today, which effectively means horse racing in Sudbury is over,” Peroni said in a May 26 press release.

“Since the SARP program was cancelled by the Liberals and NDP, 60,000 hardworking men and women have been put out of work. The McGuinty-Wynne Liberals decision to cancel SARP further illustrates the urban-rural divide that they have created over the past decade.”

The Ontario PCs stand in solidarity with the men and women who helped make horse racing in Ontario what it was, she said.

“Horse racing is an irreplaceable part of rural life in Ontario,” Peroni said.

“Horse racing will be remembered for playing an important economic role in rural Ontario, being OLG's most lucrative partner, and generating over one billion dollars in revenue over the past 12 years.

“The horse racing industry is survived by 60,000 very fine men and women and their families who built their lives around this once time honoured tradition, as well as the towns and rural communities that the horse racing industry helped to sustain.

“I call on the local Liberal and NDP candidates to confirm their support of the reintroduction of the Slots at Racetracks Program, and stand with me in support of the Sudbury families who depend on that revenue.”