A rally is planned for Wednesday at Queen’s Park by Harness Racing representatives from Hanover and Clinton.
They are worried about jobs in the industry, after Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan said he will review the 345 million dollars in subsidies given to horse racing in Ontario each year.
Ontario Harness Racing Association Director Jim Watt tells Bayshore Broadcasting News it is not a subsidy.
Watt says they have a 10 year old agreement involving racetrack owners, horsemen, municipalities and the province that has been very profitable.
In 2011, racetrack slots generated 1.7 billions in revenue and he says the McGuinty government hauled in over 1 billion as a result.
Watt says 60 thousand jobs in the racing industry would be threatened if the province renegs on the deal.
Bruce Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker says he will also present a petition today in support of the harness racing industry.
Wednesday’s rally is at 1:30 PM at Queen’s Park.
A bus is leaving Clinton at 8 AM, picking up people in Wingham at 8:45 AM, Hanover at 9:30 AM, Elora at 11 AM and arriving in Toronto around 1 PM.
There is no charge to ride the bus, and organizers are hoping for a good turnout.
Watt says this area in particular has already been hard hit in recent years with school closures, now the Walkerton jail closure, and other job losses — so it can’t take another hit like this.
