For Immediate Release
May 4, 2005

Barrett once again calls for additional hearings on Bill 164

Queen's Park - The Liberal government's anti-smoking bill gained more
attention in the Ontario Legislature today as local MPP Toby Barrett once
again called on the government to hold additional hearings.

"Many Ontarians are truly disappointed with the lack of consultation,"
Barrett said. "225 associations and individuals applied to testify before
the finance committee - only 88 were allowed to appear."

Barrett went on to explain that at the end of the fourth day of consultation in Tillsonburg he tabled a motion asking for more hearings -- the motion was defeated by the Liberals. However, Barrett said that the Windsor Star has reported that both Liberal House Leader Dwight Duncan and Minister Sandra Pupatello have joined his cause by in calling on the government to hold additional hearings.

"It's quite unusual," Duncan said of his and Pupatello's request that the
committee, headed by Chatham-Kent Essex MPP Pat Hoy, hear from an additional delegation.

"The Smoke-Free Ontario Act if passed as is, will impact many people and businesses," Barrett said. "Why wouldn't we want to hear from all those who know first-hand what Bill 164 will do to them."

He then pointed out that the Ontario Convenience Stores Association and the Ontario Korean Businessmen's Association were in the Queen's Park media studio earlier in the day explaining the crime and danger their owners/operators and employees will suffer as a result of Liberal tax hikes
and display bans.

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