For Immediate Release
August 5, 2008
Barrett tables tobacco motion
before Finance Committee
Queen’s Park – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett today tabled a motion with the Finance and Economic Affairs Committee concerning provincial funding for Ontario’s tobacco growers.
Barrett took the opportunity during committee hearings on the review of the Ontario health tax (Section 29.2 of the Income Tax Act), to officially read the motion into Hansard and distribute a copy to each member of committee representing all three parties.
The local MPP said he appreciated the opportunity to present and explain the urgency and the need for the McGuinty government to provide its 40 per cent share funding, given the recent federal announcement of $300 million to be allocated to tobacco country.
Opposition Colleagues MPP Tim Hudak and MPP Ted Arnott were in attendance and reinforced the need for immediate action, recognizing this is an issue of utmost importance.
Discussion on the matter ensued between the government and opposition members. In the end, the chair of the committee ruled that the proposed recommendations set out by Barrett be filed with the clerk of the committee and that further discussion and a decision be made on Thursday, August 21, 2008.
The following is the content of the motion as it was read into the Hansard record by MPP Barrett:
Whereas, the McGuinty Government has raised tobacco taxes three times since coming to office in 2003;
and whereas, the McGuinty Government has just received a $156.9 million payment as a result of a civil settlement agreement with Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd. and Rothmans, Benson & Hedges;
and whereas, the precedent was set when this government partnered with the Federal Liberal Government to provide $35 million under the previous TAAP program;
and whereas, the McGuinty government has repeatedly told farmers that Ontario would be an active participant in a federally-led process to address the tobacco crisis,
I move that this government forward its 40 per cent share to the tobacco growers of Southwestern Ontario utilizing the $156.9 million from the tobacco companies.
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For more information contact MPP Toby Barrett at:
519-428-0446 or 905-765-8413
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