Good morning, committee members. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today.
I'm new to the horse-racing industry. I joined Woodbine Entertainment just over a year ago, after leading marketing, digital and strategy at the Canadian Football League. In years previous to that, I was with some of Canada's leading media companies.
One of the things I loved most about being at the CFL was, in essence, that it was a mission-led organization uniting the country with one of its greatest traditions. Little did I realize, and what I hope we can share with you today, is how important the horse-racing industry is to Canada, both because of the tradition of the sport but now, even more importantly, because of its positive economic impact in our country.
The horse-racing industry generates approximately 50,000 full-time equivalent jobs across rural and urban Canada and contributes billions of dollars annually to the national economy. The production, care and racing of horses have economic benefits flowing through several sectors, including agriculture, entertainment, tourism, manufacturing and gaming. These jobs go well beyond the athletes and include trainers, grooms, riders, farmhands, veterinarians, harness and saddle makers, blacksmiths, and hay and grain suppliers, among many others.
Over the last several months we have publicly stated our support for the legalization of fixed-odds single-event sports wagering in Canada. You may be surprised to know that this industry is an innovative one, one that understands the evolving way in which the next generation of sports fans are engaging with sports.
However, it is vitally important that the legislative process considers the unintended consequences the horse-racing industry could experience should it not be protected.
Jim.