To the Editor:
I must voice my concerns here as voicing concerns to the premiere and ministers responsible falls on deaf ears as Sask Party priorities are ever changing.
In the past all money wagered on horse racing would be subject to a 10 per cent tax totalling $857,000 in 2011 but horse racing would receive $1,500,000 Sask Liquor and Gaming grant that was split between thoroughbred, standardbred, and "speed horses."
In 2010 I had written a letter to Brad Wall concerning the grant that Saskatchewan horse racing receives yearly from Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming as he passed this letter on to the minister responsible, Tim McMillan. The letter I received back stated that the priorities of the government had changed and the grant would be better spent on health care and roads and that horse racing would no longer receive a grant.
I expressed my concerns lately to the minister of Sask Liquor and Gaming Donna Harpauer as the previous letter stated the governments priorities were with health care, education and infrastructure but surprisingly the minister recently signed a three year agreement with Prairieland Park for thoroughbred racing at marquis downs and receive all the revenue from gambling ($857,000/yr) while harness and quarter horse racing get nothing.
Interestingly Donna Harpauer, the minister of SLGA, used to be the minister of Saskatchewan Opportunities Corporation with Mark Regier, CEO of Prairieland Park holding a position as one of the directors on the board of Sask Opportunities Corp while he and Prairieland Park contribute thousands of dollars to the Sask Party. A small investment of $200,000 to harness racing would add approximately $1,000,000 to the economy of Yorkton.
As this demonstrates the Sask Party is neither truthful, fair or ethical with the taxpayers funds.
Kevin Siever, Swift Current, SK.
