Forward Regulatory Plan — Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency

The Canadian Pari‑Mutuel Agency's (CPMA) Forward Regulatory Plan for 2025 to 2027 is a publicly available list, with descriptions, of planned or anticipated regulatory changes (regulatory initiatives) that CPMA intends to propose or finalize within a two year period. The Forward Regulatory Plan may include regulatory initiatives that are planned to come forward over a longer time frame and that are indicated as long-term.

This information is up to date as of August 21, 2025.

The Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency has a multi-year plan to review its existing regulations. For further information please see the Regulatory Stock Review Plan.

Title or working title of the regulatory initiative

Amendment of the Pari-Mutuel Payments Order — SI/83-72 (Request to Increase CPMA Levy)

Enabling act

Criminal Code, section 204

Description

This amendment would increase the federal levy applied to pari-mutuel bets made on horse racing, from 0.8% to 1.0%. The revenue derived from this levy is used to provide programs and services, including pari-mutuel supervision and an equine drug control (anti-doping) program, that advance the integrity of betting on horse racing.

Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses

This amendment would allow the CPMA to maintain its current level of regulatory oversight over pari-mutuel betting in Canada on horse racing as well as the provision of equine anti-doping/drug control programs.

The additional revenue from the levy increase will come from the pari-mutuel betting, which may impact racetrack operators, horsepersons' groups and the betting public.

Regulatory co-operation efforts (domestic, international)

None

Consultation

Industry stakeholder consultation will include provincial regulatory bodies, racetrack operators, horsepersons' groups and the betting public.

Further Information

Pari-Mutuel Payments Order

Criminal Code, section 204

AAFC contact information

Kimberly Dicaire
Manager, Legislative Services
Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency
Telephone: 613-219-8473
Email: Kimberly.dicaire@agr.gc.ca

The date the regulatory initiative was first included in the Forward Regulatory Plan

August 21, 2025

Title or working title of the regulatory initiative

Amendment to the Pari-Mutuel Betting Supervision Regulations: Additions to the Prohibited Drug List

Enabling act

Pari-Mutuel Betting Supervision Regulations

Description

This amendment adds the drug vatinoxan to the list of prohibited drugs in the Regulations and establishes a quantitative limit for the presence of arsenic in blood samples collected from race horses. These changes are routine, non-controversial and advance the integrity of betting on Canadian horse racing.

Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses

There are no additional costs associated with the addition of vatinoxan to the Regulations or with establishing a quantitative limit for arsenic in blood.
Industry stakeholders, including provincial regulatory bodies, racetrack operators and horsepersons' groups, will be notified once the regulatory amendment is published in Canada Gazette, Part II.

Regulatory co-operation efforts (domestic, international)

None

Consultation

The Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA) consults its Drug Advisory Committee, composed of chemists and industry veterinarians, when considering drugs for addition to the Regulations. The committee supports the inclusion of vatinoxan and the establishment of a quantitative limit for arsenic in blood.

Further information

Pari-Mutuel Betting Supervision Regulations

AAFC contact information

Kimberly Dicaire
Manager, Legislative Services
Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency
Telephone: 613-219-8473
Email: Kimberly.dicaire@agr.gc.ca

The date the regulatory initiative was first included in the Forward Regulatory Plan

August 21, 2025

Forward Regulatory Plans are intended to help Canadians, including businesses, Indigenous peoples and trading partners plan for opportunities to provide their feedback during regulatory development and future regulatory changes.

The Forward Regulatory Plan briefly describes each regulatory initiative and includes information such as:

  • who may be affected by a regulatory initiative
  • regulatory cooperation efforts undertaken or planned
  • opportunities for public consultation
  • links to related information or analysis
  • CPMA's contact information.

The Forward Regulatory Plan will be updated over time to reflect, for example, progress in regulatory development, or changes to CPMA's regulatory priorities or its operating environment.

For more information

Consult CPMA's web page Acts and Regulations — Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency for a list of acts and regulations administered by CPMA, and further information on the CPMA's implementation of government-wide regulatory management initiatives.

Consult the following for links to the Cabinet Directive on Regulation and supporting policies and guidance, and for information on government-wide regulatory initiatives implemented by departments and agencies across the Government of Canada:

To learn about upcoming or ongoing consultations on proposed federal regulations, visit

For more information on federal regulations, visit

Contact information

If you have feedback, please email us at aafc.cpmawebacpm.aac@agr.gc.ca.

Departmental contact

Rande Sawchuk
Director, Policy and Planning
Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency
Telephone: 604-292-5865
E-mail: rande.sawchuk@agr.gc.ca