For
Immediate Release
October 28, 2004
Ag
Minister blows smoke on tobacco lobbyist scandal
Queen’s Park - When Ontario’s
Agriculture Minister turns his back on one group of farmers; he’s
turning his back on all farmers. Those were the words that PC Agriculture
Critic Ernie Hardeman spoke this afternoon in the Ontario Legislature.
Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant MPP
Toby Barrett couldn’t agree more. “By accepting the fundraising
assistance of an anti-tobacco lobbyist, Minister Peters has chosen which
side of the fence he sits on - the side of lobbyists,” Barrett said.
Oxford County tobacco farmer
Dwayne VanBesien feels that “Farmers of Ontario have to rely on
their Ag Minister in good times and in bad - that’s why he is there,
for all farmers, including tobacco farmers. With the latest announcement
that Ag Minister Peters will be the guest of honour at an event hosted
by an anti-tobacco lobbyist, in my opinion confirms that he is turning
his back on us. It feels like he’s conspiring to put us completely
out of business in Ontario, and that’s appalling since he’s
supposed to be representing us as farmers.”
Peters came under fire yesterday
when MPP Barrett revealed to members of the House that the Minister was
condoning the practice of lobbyists advertising their access to him for
a fee. Barrett continued by asking Peters how tobacco farmers can count
on his support after such a stunt.
Minister Peters replied to
yesterday’s question from Barrett by saying, “We campaigned
very clearly that we were going to have an aggressive anti-smoking strategy
in this province. This province is committed to saving people's lives.”
Today, Hardeman continued to
press Peters as to how “in good conscience he can continue as Minister
of Agriculture while so arrogantly ignoring the needs of his stakeholders.”
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For more information please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: 519-428-0446,
905-765-8413 or 1-800-903-8629
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