The House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador has approved legislation to repeal the Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing Commission Act within the province.
Introduced as the Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing Commission Repeal Act, Bill 44 was presented by Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, during the second session of the 50th General Assembly on March 4. The bill passed through the legislature without amendments and received royal assent on May 29.
Newfoundland and Labrador have been part of the Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing Commission (APHRC) since joining forces with the Maritime Provinces Harness Racing Commission in 2015. Established in 1994, the APHRC oversees harness racing activities, including pari-mutuel betting, in member provinces, which include New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.
The last harness racing event in Newfoundland and Labrador occurred in the summer of 2015 at the St. John's Racing and Entertainment Centre before the cessation of live racing and simulcast operations at the Goulds facility.
During the bill's second reading on March 13, Minister Coady clarified that the decision to withdraw from the APHRC was based on financial considerations. With no active racetracks in the province, Newfoundland and Labrador no longer required the commission's services. The province has contributed approximately $146,000 towards APHRC operations since 2015, including a $17,500 contribution last year.
Minister Coady emphasised that the absence of harness racing in the province for several years and the lack of current opportunities for its revival justified the decision to withdraw. However, she noted that if the sport were to return in the future, the province could reconsider its involvement.
The repeal act came into effect on March 31, 2024. The APHRC declined to comment on Newfoundland and Labrador's decision at this time.