The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has established a panel to work with the horse racing and breeding industry to move foward with a plan that will ensure the long-term viability of a successful horse racing and breeding industry in Ontario.  The following are the Terms of Reference for the OMAFRA Panel which have been taken from their website. 

The HBPA of Ontario along with the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association (OHRIA) is encouraging all industry stake holders to submit their comments to the panel and let them know what effect the announcement to end the Slots at Racetracks Program is having on your lives, by following the link below as soon as possible.

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/about/transition/index.html

Terms of Reference

Context

The panel is part of the Government’s commitment to help the horse-racing industry (Industry) toward a self-sustaining future.

Purpose

The purpose of the panel is to make non-binding recommendations to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs about how the Government might help the Industry adjust to the end of the Slots at Racetrack Program (SARP).

Objectives

The Panel shall:

• Provide a forum for Industry stakeholders;
• Work with Industry to create a vision for Industry self-sufficiency;
• Identify the Industry’s key adjustment challenges and what is required to meet those challenges
• Encourage dialogue, strategic planning and consensus building within the Industry;
• Advise on priorities for transition support and how best to address the priorities, including how to allocate funding amongst these priorities;
• Provide additional observations on how the Industry can improve governance and work better together;
• Provide the Minister with a written report and recommendations.

Term

The working term of the Panel will begin on the date that the Minister of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs announces it, a final report is expected in late summer and its work will end on September 30, 2012.

Deliverables

“In Scope”

The Panel shall:

• Consult, at its discretion, with
  • Industry organizations representing those affected by the end of the SARP
  • Experts in gaming and Industry development
  • The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission and the Ontario Racing Commission
  • Community leaders from areas affected by a reorganization of the Industry
  • Other organizations or persons the Panel feels may assist its work
• Gather information on the scope and dynamics of the Industry and consumer demand for its products and services
• Assess the Industry’s prospects in a competitive gaming marketplace
• Identify the barriers to, and enablers of the Industry’s transition to a self-sufficient business model
• Provide the Minister with a written report that:
  • Sets out the challenges the Industry may encounter as a result of the end of the SARP ;
  • Identifies critical areas that will require transitional funding or other support;
  • Identifies a plan to help the Industry become self-sufficient; and
  • Makes recommendations for:
    • Options to be considered as part of a comprehensive transition approach for the Industry,
    • Allocating funding under the Horse-Racing Industry Transition Plan (Plan) to assist the Industry in becoming self-sufficient.
    • Provides the cost of any recommendations, and
• Report to the Minister or his designate as requested.

The Panel may also make recommendations of a more general nature, including:

• Recommendations to strengthen the sector and improve governance and decision-making
• Recommendations related to the delivery of transition support

The final written report and recommendations shall reflect the consensus views of the Panel members. Where a consensus cannot be achieved, the matter should be identified and commended to further consideration by Government.

The Panel shall ensure its recommendations are consistent with the following considerations:

• Recommendations shall give consideration to providing support for people who wish to leave the Industry and for people who wish to continue in the Industry
• As the Industry’s workforce will be particularly challenged as the Industry restructures, any special workforce training and assistance measures that may be warranted.
• Animal welfare concerns arising from industry uncertainty or restructuring shall be addressed.
• Proposed initiatives should be within the approved funding for the Plan and any recommendations to amend legislation must be within Ontario’s jurisdiction;
• Proposed initiatives should complement other transition supports that may be available through Government programs.
• The Plan shall, at a maximum, cover three fiscal years (2013-14 through to 2015-16) and will end in March 2016; following that period, the Industry could participate in whatever generic business support programs the government may offer for which they are eligible.

Governance and Conduct

The Panel members shall:

• Provide the Deliverables in a full, diligent, professional, non-partisan and competent manner.
• Comport themselves at all times to the highest ethical standards and in a non-partisan manner with a view to serving the best interests of the public and the Industry
• Conduct themselves in Industry interactions so as to demonstrate probity, impartiality and respect for the views and opinions of Industry participants;
• Adhere to this Terms of Reference