Dear Premier McGuinty,
It has come to my attention that the Drummond report is targeting the profit sharing revenure that is raised by the casinos and racetracks.
As a trainer, I have worked for 25 years at Fort Erie racetrack. I have lived through years of turmoil that each year the track will close.
The new consortium that took over the track two years ago has made significant changes and it has become a wonderful place to work .
Not only that, but in the past 10 years since the original contract with the governement, we have seen positive changes in Fort Erie as a town. Millions of dollars were given to the town that helped rebuild the infrastructure of Fort Erie. Millions were also reportedly poured into provincial heath care ( then you close our hospital ) from all the tracks provincewide.
Now, one report is threatening the change all of that.
Please reconsider this report and the long standing effects it will have on a huge agricultural part of our province. There are thousands of horses that will be affected as well as triners, owners, breeders, grooms, riders, feed companies and farmers that produce hay and straw.
When I go to my local supermarket, Walmart, Canadian Tire, gas station, there is not a time I do not run into three or more people that will be affected by this report .
The finance minister is looking to shake 18 communities that revolve around racetracks and their businesses to their core. Imagine the impact on these ecomomies. Fort Erie has 30,000 population and we are small in comparison to Windor and Toronto. Still, this is a provincewide attack from north to south. It will be a greater impact on work shortages than General Motors closures and layoffs.
Please reconsider. The racetrack and casino monies do far more good that you realize.
Claudia Rabstein
Fort Erie
