Kathleen Wynne, Letter To The Editor: Ontario's Horse Racing Industry.

The new Ontario government believes in a strong, sustainable future for the horse racing industry in this province. We have a plan, guided by the report of the Horse Racing Industry Transition Panel, for a way forward that will put the industry on a sustainable path – and while we’ve already made a lot of progress, we know there is more work to be done.

We have committed up to $180 million to support the industry over the next three years as it adapts to a smaller and more sustainable model. Agreements for transition funding have been signed with 12 racetracks and there will be horse racing at 15 tracks right across the province this season. Details about those agreements are publicly available on the Ministry of Agriculture and Food website.

Last week, I was happy to announce that the government would support the Horse Improvement Program – which will total up to $30 million in each of the next two years – to give Ontario’s vibrant racehorse breeding industry the confidence that there is a future here for Ontario-bred racehorses.

The Horse Racing Transition Panel has spent hundreds of hours working with stakeholders. In their report, they recommended a new market-driven model that works for the industry and is good public policy. This model will include integrating horse racing with the modernization of the province’s gaming strategy, which will provide additional revenue sources for racetracks.

I have asked the Panel to consult with industry over the summer and to present a detailed a plan for the future of horseracing in Ontario by October 2013 that would see the industry take ownership for its long term future success. Those consultations will begin on June 21^st, and I encourage everyone who has an interest to share their views.

I know how important the horse racing and breeding industries are to the culture and economy of communities across Ontario, and that is why our government will continue to work with the industry to ensure that it has a strong, sustainable future.

- Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Agriculture and Food

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Welcome to
Ontario Agriculture

Sign Up
or Sign In

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Alberta Beef Producers hosts Producer Town Hall on Traceability

Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) hosted a Producer Town Hall on Traceability on March 2, ahead of its Annual General Meeting, bringing together industry representatives and cattle producers to share perspectives on one of the most pressing issues currently facing the beef sector. “Traceability has become one of the most talked-about issues in the Canadian beef industry in recent weeks,” says Doug Roxburgh, Chair of ABP. “ABP is in a listening phase and is committed to hearing directly from Alberta cattle producers and representing their best interests as discussions move forward. The purpose of this Town Hall was to provide additional time and space for producers to share their perspectives, which will help inform ABP’s approach on this issue.” Alberta cattle producers were invited to attend in person or virtually. The event took place at the Sheraton Cavalier Calgary and was broadcast live to online registrants via Direct Livestock Marketing Systems (DLMS). The event began with op

Alberta Beef Producers objects to proposed traceability changes; announces intent to form traceability working group

Following extensive producer engagement, including 15 Producer Meetings and a dedicated Town Hall, ABP delegates passed a resolution at the 2026 Annual General Meeting directing the creation of a traceability working group. ABP, alongside governments and other cattle organizations, will work to address deficiencies and producer confidence in the current model before further changes can be considered. Effective disease readiness and trade access require a traceability system that works in practice, not just in policy. It must be supported by proven technology, reflect the realities of cattle production, and limit undue costs or administrative burden. Without that foundation, the system will not achieve full producer participation and will?not work as intended.??? The?proposed amendments to Part XV of the?Health of Animals Regulations?(Identification and Traceability), as advanced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), create significant challenges for beef producers and ABP

Farmer Funding to Drive Innovation and Strengthen Canola Production under Canola Agronomic Research Program in 2026

The three Prairie provincial canola grower associations have evaluated and selected 11 canola research projects to receive funding under the Canola Agronomic Research Program (CARP) in 2026. This investment includes over $2.4 million from Alberta Canola, SaskOilseeds and Manitoba Canola Growers, as well as over $495,000 from the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) and over $1 million from Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR), bringing the total investment to $4 million. Driven by grower associations and supported by a robust, collaborative research priority development and proposal review system, CARP enables the funding of projects that are key to advancing canola productivity and mitigating production threats. The funded projects regularly provide new strategies for managing pests and diseases, addressing emerging threats such as weeds and viral infections, and supporting a more resilient canola crop. Grower associations are pleased to collaborate with the RDAR and WGRF,

University of Saskatchewan finalists named for McCall MacBain Scholarship

Established with a $200-million gift in 2019, the McCall MacBain Scholarships are Canada’s largest leadership-based scholarships for master’s and professional studies. More than 700 Canadians applied, and 151 advanced to a first round of interviews in November. The top 53 Canadians will attend the final round of interviews in Montreal, joined by 38 finalists from other countries. “It is inspiring to make it this far. I’m thankful to know that my hard work in and out of university has led me to this point, and I have to credit the people who have helped me along the way,” said Zentner. “I feel a little bit lucky, and blessed beyond measure.” Zentner is a graduate of the College of Kinesiology. He is the executive director of the Kinesiology Association of Saskatchewan, leading efforts to advance the field of kinesiology across the province. He was promoted to executive director after first volunteering with the association for a year. “More than anything, university taught me to beli

New Sprott Awards support Indigenous graduate students

The new Sprott awards recognize resilience, leadership and academic potential for Indigenous graduate students studying at the College of Agriculture and Bioresources (AgBio) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask). These financial awards help remove barriers to success for Indigenous students. The Sprott Indigenous Graduate Scholar Award is awarded to a new student entering a thesis-based graduate program. It is a renewable award valued at $25,000/year for a MSc student and $30,000/year for a PhD student. This year’s recipients are Taya Fedorchuk and Kim Lebel. The Sprott Indigenous Graduate Achievement Award is valued at $5,000 and is awarded to a current student in a thesis-based graduate program. This year’s recipients are Bella Amyotte, Jolynn Amyotte, Morgan Fleming and Jeremy Irvine. The award recipients’ graduate research showcases the innovation and range of research in AgBio! Taya Fedorchuk Research project: Growing horticulture crops in northern climates in hydroponic gr

More…

Badges | Report an Issue | Terms of Service