Too many unanswered questions in tobacco country

Queen’s Park – Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant MPP Toby Barrett stood in the Ontario Legislature again to raise awareness of the devastation occurring in tobacco farm country.

This came on the heels of news that the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers’ Marketing Board has sent out notices to all 150 employees of the Delhi auction exchange indicating that the 2006 market will be their last season.

“The McGuinty government has waged war on tobacco farm families…through increased taxes and the smoke-free Ontario legislation,” Barrett said. “This has eliminated farms and resulted in lost jobs, not only for local labourers but, as well, for offshore workers, who spend their hard-earned dollars in our small towns.”

Barrett continued to explain that small towns in his riding and in neighbouring ridings are suffering and he sees little sign of anyone lending a helping hand. He then asked if Premier Dalton McGuinty and Agriculture Minister Leona Dombrowsky were working with the Federal government to deliver a fair and equitable exit plan.

The local MPP is aware that tobacco growers are confused by this recent announcement and wonder if it is a sign that an exit plan is imminent, and whether or not there will be a 2007 crop.

“There are too many unanswered questions,” Barrett concluded.

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

October 24, 2006

Tobacco industry

Mr. Toby Barrett (Haldimand–Norfolk–Brant): I rise today to continue to raise awareness of the devastation occurring in tobacco farm country. As I’ve made clear over the past several years, this government has helped escalate a decline in the farming of tobacco.

The McGuinty government has waged war on tobacco farm families in the counties of Brant, Oxford, Norfolk and Elgin through increased taxes and the smoke-free Ontario legislation. This has eliminated farms and resulted in lost jobs, not only for local labourers but, as well, for offshore workers, who spend their hard-earned dollars in our small towns.

Our small towns and their respective businesses are suffering and there’s little sign of anyone lending a helping hand. Just yesterday, the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers’ Marketing Board was forced to send out pink slips to all 150 workers at the Delhi auction exchange. This is horrible news for those 150 workers who will have to find jobs in an area that’s already plagued by high unemployment.

Tobacco growers are also confused: Is yesterday’s announcement by the board an indication an exit plan is imminent? If the auction exchange is closing, will there be a 2007 growing season? Are Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture and Premier McGuinty working with their federal counterparts on a tobacco exit plan? There are too many unanswered questions.