October 21, 2004
For Immediate Release

Province’s disregard for tobacco compensation inexcusable

Queen’s Park – When will the provincial Liberal Government live up to its campaign promise of $50 million to compensate tobacco farmers and tobacco communities in Brant, Oxford, Elgin and Norfolk?

That was the question Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant MPP Toby Barrett had for Dalton McGuinty Wednesday, as PC members called on the Liberal government to restore funding and support to Ontario’s farm families. The call was answered with a resounding “No” from the Liberal benches.

“This week we heard Federal Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell move on the $71 million commitment made by former Agriculture Minister Bob Speller to help growers and the local economy ease out of tobacco,” Barrett stated in the Ontario Legislature. “Ontario is the tobacco growing province and Ontario just declared war on tobacco by jacking up taxes twice; which leaves us with one question, where is the promised $50 million in compensation?”

Barrett said that the fact Dalton McGuinty’s Liberal have not ponied up the promised $50 million is inexcusable; especially given the fact that tobacco contributes $8 billion in taxes across Canada each year.

“There was a hog crisis in 1998. Farmers came out looking for support. Our government had cheques in the mail in 30 days,” Barrett reminded members of the Ontario Legislature. “My tobacco farmers and cattlemen have been waiting a lot longer than that.”

- 30 –

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