For Immediate Release
August 1, 200

Time for Ontario to honour traditional 60/40 partnership to help
tobacco country

Delhi – Following an announcement by the Federal Government of money for tobacco country, Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett says farmers must now ask Ontario to honour the traditional 60/40 partnership.

Of the $300 million announced by Ottawa today, roughly $15 million will be provided for community development -- the remainder translates into $1.05 per pound of quota.

“There has always been a traditional 60/40 split for agriculture funding in Canada,” Barrett said. “If the province provides its 40 per cent share, it would bring the package to $1.74 per pound which is what farmers received through the TAAP program a few years back.

“Dalton McGuinty just received $156.9 million yesterday through a civil settlement agreement with Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd. and Rothmans, Benson & Hedges – this money would take care of the province’s 40 per cent share and would not cost the provincial Liberals a cent,” Barrett said.

Barrett said he forwarded a letter this afternoon to Agriculture Minister Leona Dombrowsky and Premier Dalton McGuinty asking that they transfer the $156.9 million to tobacco country.

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For more information please contact MPP Toby Barrett at 1-800-903-8629