Simcoe – “As I’ve said before, desperate times sometimes call for desperate measures.”
That was Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett’s response to Plan B for Ontario’s beleaguered tobacco growers. The plan will see farmers throwing tobacco bales to the curb for garbage pick-up if government does not commit to a complete quota buyout by January 31st. Farmers will continue to add a bale each night thereafter until an announcement is made.
“It is sad that the tobacco crisis has come to this,” Barrett said. “Farmers feel they have nothing to lose because tobacco sitting in their barns is worth nothing to them at this point.”
It is estimated that if a commitment is not made before farmers’ barns are emptied, governments will lose about $3 billion in taxes.
“I am not sure what farmers have to do to get attention from Queen’s Park,” Barrett questioned. “Back in December tobacco farmers trucked bales from Delhi to Six Nations and Premier McGuinty didn’t blink. These are Ontario tobacco growers and it’s up to Ontario to lend a hand.”
The local MPP cites increased taxes, the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, and denial of the illicit tobacco trade by the McGuinty Liberals as being factors that have created economic woes in tobacco country.
“This crisis has been government-induced; therefore, government has an obligation to compensate,” Barrett said. “I worry the Premier believes that if he ignores this problem long enough that it will just disappear.”
- 30 -
For more information please
contact MPP Toby Barrett at: 519-428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629
|
