March 31, 2004

Tobacco in crisis requires government compensation

Tobacco is in crisis -- tobacco communities are also in crisis. Quite simply the federal and provincial governments need to step in and provide compensation.

Tobacco provides the federal and provincial governments across Canada with over $8 billion a year in taxes – we need some of that back. Area municipalities have also done well in the past as a result of tobacco-driven spending and property tax revenue. 

Many storms have been weathered in recent years in the tobacco field, and the latest developments are far from encouraging – they are downright disappointing. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture has eliminated the position of tobacco specialist and Premier McGuinty is on record as saying: “We are going to do more than any other government in Canada when it comes to waging a war on tobacco.” It’s no secret the current government will continue to jack up tobacco taxes and will create a smoke-free Ontario. To add to this, Imperial Tobacco Canada, in past weeks, has indicated that it will import more, and pay less.

Tobacco remains unknown and misunderstood for many. I work hard at Queen’s Park to educate legislators about the impacts high taxes and political interference cause for our farmers, their families and local communities. Locally, many people still don’t think of Simcoe and Ohsweken as tobacco towns.

We know that smoking – as with much of our behaviour -- can affect health. However, tobacco is a legal product and if seven million Canadians are to continue smoking, it’s in our best interest to have them continue to smoke homegrown product. While the current provincial and federal governments are busy trying to force tobacco farmers out of their fields, they are neglecting to inform the general public that they will continue to collect the same amount of tax dollars from overseas replacement tobacco.  We in Canada have very little knowledge or control of pesticides used on tobacco imported from Brazil, China and Africa.

Despite the doom and gloom in tobacco country, events over the past few weeks prove producers will not be defeated. The rally at Imperial in Guelph was an opportunity for farmers to communicate. Last Monday evening the Team Advising on the Crisis in Tobacco (TACT), spearheaded by Ross Gowan, presented its comprehensive report. 

TACT recommends: securing alternative sources of income; sustaining existing farm enterprises and developing new value-added opportunities; increasing commercial and industrial development; supporting innovation and entrepreneurship; and expanding tourism. TACT’s report is excellent – it’s thorough and provides direction to help shape the future. But funding is needed.

Tobacco country is clearly in crisis and the job of government is to step in when people are in trouble. I assure you that the farming community is not alone – stand tall and don’t give up.

At the time of writing, no funding has been announced for any proposal. I encourage farmers to contact the following federal and provincial politicians and inform them compensation is needed immediately:

Gar Knutson, MP Elgin-Middlesex-London 1-800-265-7810

Steve Peters, MPP Elgin-Middlesex-London 1-800-265-7638

Rose Marie Ur, MP Lambton-Kent-Middlesex 1-800-586-4614

Maria VanBommel, MPP Lambton-Kent-Middlesex 1-800-265-3916

John Finlay, MP Oxford 1-800-461-7104

Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford 1-800-265-4046

Jane Stewart, MP Brant 519-751-2566

Dave Levac, MPP Brant 519-759-0361

Bob Speller, MP HNB 1-800-265-2825

Toby Barrett, MPP HNB 1-800-903-8629