Page 11 - March 2007 The Game

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper The Game, March 2007 11
Horse Racing Alliance Continued from previous Page
The Chairman of the Horse Racing Alliance, Michael Van Every, is a retired partner from PricewaterhouseCoopers Chartered Accountants. Van Every, who has bred and owned both standardbreds and thoroughbreds, has been a past member of the CTHS both provincially and nationally and is also steward and treasurer of the Jockey Club of Canada. Van Every has experienced a certain level of frustration over the years with regards to section 31.
“The Ministry of Agriculture has been quiet uninterested actually,” he says. “The
Department of Finance is
the group that writes tax
policy so we have been talking with the Minister of Finance, Jim Flaherty.”
About six years ago, a private members bill asking for section 31 to be changed was introduced to the House of Commons by Carol Skelton, (now the Minister of National Revenue and Minister of Western Diversification) but it was not passed. Van Every, though has a reason for optimism that the next time around will be more successful.
“It stands in the same position,” he says, “We’ve made a proposal to the Finance Committee again this year. I’m hopeful that we’ll finally get some recognition from the current government, some- thing needs to be done. We may get them to agree to eliminate or to phase in the elimination. I expect to see something in the current budget that they’re preparing.”
The HRAC has been relentless lately, talking with politicians and directing their argument specifically to something called the Rural Caucus, a group of MPs from all the rural communities in Canada.
“A significant number of members of the Rural Caucus have agreed to support our request,” says Van Every, “It’s quite helpful that the present Minister of National Revenue, Carol Skelton, is the one who put in the private member’s bill. She now works closely with the Minster of Finance.”
Van Every’s tireless efforts on behalf of Canadian horse people is rooted in the issue of fairness.
“We’re just asking for a level playing field like all
other businesses,” he says,” The government is imposing on us a tax scheme that is different from what all other businesses enjoy. It’s also different from the US method, so it’s making it difficult for Canadians to compete with Americans, and this is a North American business.”
To punctuate just how important a change in the Tax law is, Van Every makes a point that is steeped in political implications. “We’ve also told the government that if they help us in this regard, we have lots of influence in the print to thank them and to support them in the next election. It’s in their interest if they’re
interested in the rural support.”
W
Wendover Training Centre
Developing High Calibre Racehorses
endover Training Centre
Wando’s First Foal
The first foal by Canada’s Triple Crown Champion, Wando, was born January 25 at Dr. Dede McGehee’s Heaven Trees Farm in Lexington. The foal is a colt out of a Clever Trick mare, Tricky Vixen.
Large Indoor Arena 60 ft. Round Breaking Pen
12 x10 Matted Stalls Fully Ventilated Natural Light
Odyssey Performance Trainer
with built in dust control sprinkler system
COMING JUNE 2007
1/2 Mile Training Track with all weather surface. Inner Turf Course. Chute with Starting Gate & MORE!
BreakingW TrainingW Legging-Up BoardingW Lay-Ups
W endover
Training Centre
Construction is well under way!
W
W
Paul & Melanie O’Sullivan, Managing Owners
Located in the Quiet Rolling Hills of King Township Call 905-939-2625 • Fax 905-939-9047
email: wendoverstables@routcom.com