Any hope that slots would return to Fort Erie is fading away.
The Ontario government announced that $10 million per year will go to horse racing industry programs to support breeding and industry development for Ontario-bred horses.
A long-term funding agreement was previously signed between the industry and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp, providing up to $105 million per year for 19 years for racetrack operations and purse support.
As well, the government has previously announced packages through the Optional Slots at Racetracks Program for operational funding for eligible racetracks that lost or were going to lose slot facilities.
Kawartha Downs, Ajax Downs, and Hiawatha Horse Park elected to keep slots facilities, while Fort Erie Race Track and Dresden Raceway chose to receive additional money for horse racing operations.
It was back in October of last year we found out that the OLG and the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium which operates the horse racing business made the deal to accept additional cash instead of bring slots back to the track.
Members of the Consortium signed non-disclosure agreements, which means they couldn't talk about the details of the offer from the OLG.
Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop says the option of cash was never mentioned by the Province and the Town was never consulted on this alternative.
He says "it appears that the government structured a back room deal behind closed doors " with the Consortium and that's "not acceptable to the residents of Fort Erie or the Town."
Meantime, Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates stated "the backroom deal tramples the efforts of Fort Erie families and horse people throughout the region to secure a future for the track."
He says the slot race track program is vital to returning 300 jobs to the town.