For Immediate Release
March 3, 2008

McGuinty government refuses to address tobacco crisis

Queen’s Park – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett is frustrated by the McGuinty government’s lack of support for Ontario’s tobacco growers.

While Barrett’s frustration has long been felt, today the Liberals once again voted against a proposal which would see the province contribute 40 per cent of a federally-led tobacco exit package. A motion was made during a Pre-Budget Finance Committee meeting today at Queen’s Park.

“It is this very government who has instituted a war on tobacco and some of the most stringent tobacco control legislation in the world,” Barrett said. “It baffles me that they can turn his back on these folks who have been driven out of business by hypocritical government policy.

“These are Ontario tobacco growers and this would not be happening if this crisis was in any other province,” Barrett said. “McGuinty and gang should be leading the charge on this file, and yet we see them refusing to pony up the traditional 40 per cent.”

Barrett said that he will not give up his fight for fair and reasonable compensation for Ontario’s tobacco farmers, adding that he will take every opportunity to raise the issue when the Ontario Legislature resumes March 17th.

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For more information please call MPP
Toby Barrett at: 519-428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629