For immediate release:
December 5, 2006  

Barrett encourages Province to act quickly on tobacco exit plan

Queen's Park- Today MPP Toby Barrett continued his fight for an exit-strategy for Ontario's beleaguered tobacco farmers.

"I encourage this McGuinty government to act quickly on a tobacco exit
strategy which they've been ignoring far too long," the Haldimand-Norfolk Brant MPP said in the Ontario Legislature. "Government interference has decimated the industry and

tobacco farmers can no longer produce a viable crop."

Further, Barrett explained that tobacco farmers have invested in infrastructure that is worth very little at this point in time.

"In recent weeks, tobacco farmers rallied outside not only federal but also
provincial members' offices," Barrett continued. "And although I look
forward to speaking with farmers this Friday at my office, I'm disheartened
that they've been reduced to nothing more than begging for action."

Barrett has long voiced his opinion that with any war there are reparations and feels tobacco farmers are victims of Dalton McGuinty’s war on tobacco. He pointed to the illegal tobacco trade that is sucking $2.5 billion in taxes from across Canada each and every year.

“This $2.5-billion loss in taxes across Canada would go a very long way throughout tobacco country.”

Ontario’s Agriculture Minister has said her government is willing to participate in a process aimed at developing a long-term solution for tobacco growers – Barrett questioned whether this means Ontario is willing to talk about the traditional 60-40 split with the Federal Government.

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For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: (416) 325-8404,
(519) 428-0446, or 1-800-903-8629

Tobacco Industry

Mr. Toby Barrett (Haldimand–Norfolk–Brant): I encourage this McGuinty government to act quickly on a tobacco exit strategy which they’ve been ignoring far too long. Government interference has decimated the industry and tobacco farmers can no longer produce a viable crop. Farmers are fed up with this government pointing its finger at the feds.

Recently, Ontario’s ag minister said, “Ontario is prepared to be an active participant in a federally led process to fund a long-term solution for the tobacco growing region.” Is Minister Dombrowsky meeting with Minister Strahl in Ottawa to discuss a 60-40 split? The question remains.

As I’ve told this House there is an underground tobacco trade that deletes $2.5 billion in taxes each and every year. This $2.5-billion loss in taxes across Canada would go a very long way throughout tobacco country.

As the fight for a fair exit strategy continues, farmers in my riding are finding it increasingly difficult to hold their heads above water. Through no fault of their own, farm families have invested in infrastructure, infrastructure that is now worth very little. In recent weeks tobacco farmers rallied outside not only federal but also provincial members’ offices and, although I look forward to speaking with farmers this Friday at my office, I’m disheartened that they’ve been reduced to nothing more than begging for action.