For Immediate Release
April 15, 2005

Hearings on Smoke-Free Ontario on their way to tobacco country

Barrett encourages farm groups, businesses and farmers to make their voices heard

Simcoe – The impact of Smoke-Free Ontario legislation was the focus of MPP Toby Barrett as he joined in the debate of Bill 164 in advance of Committee hearings.

“The member for Erie-Lincoln made mention of the potential impact on the hospitality industry down his way and made mention of the Dunnville Legion, the loss of 50% of their business - I will say that farther west, the Hagersville Legion has an excellent spokesperson with respect to issues of tobacco in the form of Reg McGrath, a war veteran” Barrett said. “In the Niagara Falls Review, a Chippawa restaurant has indicated that 18 businesses in Niagara Falls have closed and a further 25 have sustained losses of close to $1 million. Again, that is related to smoking legislation in that part of Ontario.”

Barrett went on to point out the hypocrisy of a government that rakes in tobacco taxes while putting farmers out of business with its smoking ban.
“As everyone here would know, governments, both federal and provincial across the Dominion of Canada, bring in well over $8 billion a year from this particular product - whether they talk about banning it or not, they are very much content to continue to bring in the tax money,” Barrett asserted. “All we're asking for is compensation for farmers to allow them to leave the industry with dignity.”

Today, Barrett followed up his comments in the legislature with news that public hearings on Bill 164, The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, are soon coming to Tillsonburg, Toronto and Oshawa. The Finance Committee will hold its first hearing in for Toronto at Queens Park on the 21st of April, and then again on the 28th. Oshawa hearings are slated for the 22nd, and the committee is expected to wrap up hearings in Tillsonburg on April the 29th.

Barrett is encouraging farm groups, businesses and farmers to notify the committee clerk’s office by 12 noon Wednesday the 20th if they are interested in testifying before the Finance Committee in Toronto or Oshawa – those interested in testifying in Tillsonburg have until Tuesday the 26th at noon to contact the Clerk. The Finance Committee Clerk can be reached at Tel: (416) 325-3509 beginning Monday afternoon.

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For more information please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: 519-428-0446, 905-765-8413 or 1-800-903-8629