For immediate release
December 11, 2007

Barrett: "Desperate times for farmers triggered a desperate measure"

Queen's Park - Tobacco farmers have had enough - that was the message Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett delivered to the Ontario Legislature today.

Barrett stood in the Ontario Legislature to tell members about yesterday's tobacco convoy from Delhi to Six Nations. About 400 tobacco farmers transferred over 100 bales from pick-up trucks into a tractor trailer outside the Onondaga Longhouse. These bales represent close to $1 million in tobacco tax revenue that neither the provincial nor the federal government will ever see.

"Whether one approves of civil disobedience or not, in this case, the desperate times for farmers triggered a desperate measure," Barrett said. "This is a threat to government."

Barrett went on to say that government has lost control over 25 per cent of the tobacco trade, losing millions each year nationally in taxes to the underground economy - an underground economy that has been created by government tax policy.

"Government policy has propped up an illegal tobacco trade, with which the legal trade cannot compete," Barrett explained. "Yesterday was a signal that some farmers have decided that if they can't beat them, they may join them."

The local MPP also said that tobacco farmers have had enough and that they want out since they are in the midst of a market meltdown.

"An exit package is needed immediately, yet government works at a glacial pace, waiting for the feds to make a move," Barrett said. "All the while, these are Ontario tobacco growers."

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

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2007
TOBACCO FARMERS

Mr. Toby Barrett: Yesterday, 400 tobacco farmers, landowners and Six Nations residents gathered outside the Onondaga Longhouse at Six Nations. Over 100 bales of tobacco were transferred from farm pick-up trucks into a tractor-trailer at Six Nations, and this represented close to $1 million in tobacco tax revenue-revenue that neither this provincial government nor the federal government will ever see again.

Whether one approves of civil disobedience or not, in this case, the desperate times for farmers triggered a desperate measure. This is a threat to overnment. Government for some time now has had no control over 25% of the tobacco trade, losing millions a year nationally in taxes to the underground economy.
This underground economy has been created by government tax policy.

Tobacco farmers have had enough. They want out. They are in a market meltdown. Government policy has propped up an illegal tobacco trade, with which the legal trade cannot compete. Yesterday was a signal that some farmers have decided that if they can't beat them, they may join them.

An exit package is needed immediately, yet government works at a glacial pace, waiting for the feds to make a move. All the while, these are Ontario tobacco growers.

Those attending the gathering at the Onondaga Longhouse asked for some meaningful dialogue and they asked for some action.