PEI - “Binns government should heed Hammill”
PETER MCKENNA, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL STUDIES, UPEI,
Editor:
Re “The glory days of racing without the racino “(The Guardian, March 17, 2007): Permit me to commend former agriculture minister Eric Hammill for his thoughtful commentary on VLTs and the Charlottetown racino.
He is right on the money when he talks about VLT addiction, the attendant social fallout and the government’s addiction to VLT revenues.
I would also like to include some additional information for Islanders to consider. First, VLT expenditures/wagers on P.E.I. are most assuredly not down and show absolutely no signs of deceasing anytime soon. In fact, these numbers have increased from $18.8 million in 2004 to $19.7 million in 2005. In 2006, those same wagers, including the additional racino portion, jumped to $23.4 million.
The only reason why VLT revenues to provincial coffers are down is because of the losses incurred by the racino, which were subtracted from the province’s overall VLT take. In addition, the harness racing sector was subsidized to the tune of some $2.4 million to cover increased purse pools. How long is this subsidy going to remain in place?
Mr. Hammill talks about the racino being conceived as a means of rescuing the harness racing people. I’ve found absolutely no evidence to suggest that harness racing community is getting one red cent from the racino’s VLT take.
Mr. Hammill argues that “the racino is not the right vehicle to finance the industry.” To be honest, it was always about the money; that is, increased VLT revenues through the creation of more VLT addicts.
As for Mr. Hammill’s point about the harness racing sector surviving sans the racino, I’d hardly think so. I can just imagine the reaction from the horsemen if the Binns government were to terminate the $2.4-million purse pool subsidy. Believe me, it would be game over for the harness racing sector.
But I couldn’t agree more with Mr. Hammill’s linking of province-sponsored gambling with the sale of cocaine. Really, what’s the difference?
I just wish members of the current Binns government would take heed of what their former cabinet colleague and caucus mate has to say. But I doubt they’re even listening.
