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A hostile environment for farming today
Agriculture operates in a much-changed business environment today – an environment of high costs and poor prices -- where farmers are finding it increasingly difficult to make sound, long-term decisions.[Read more]

Tobacco, Caledonia require government action
Early last Wednesday morning, I watched a convoy of ten ATV’s head South on the Main Street of Caledonia and then West on Haldimand County Sixth Line. As the bumper stickers say - “Caledonia: No Sherriff – No Law”.[Read more]

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[ Read more ]

October 24, 2006 - 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.[Read more]

July 12, 2006 - Tobacco country waiting for exit plan

In the past, life on the tobacco farm was a good one – families worked hard and at the end of harvest were comfortably rewarded.

In the early 1970s, when I primed tobacco, 3,200 farmers were growing a record crop of 238 million pounds. [Read more]

Notwithstanding some hurdles – poor weather conditions and disease – the crop size remained reasonably stable, at about 150 million pounds, into the 1990s.

May 26, 2006 - Decoding the Smoke-Free Ontario  Act

Some of my readers have questioned me over the past few years as to why I continue to write about tobacco.

The answer is simple: right across Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant there are manufacturers, processors and growers who are dealing with government interference and hypocrisy. [Read more]

March 23, 2006 - McGuinty and Duncan stoke the fires in tobacco country
Desperate farmers are met with deep cuts to agriculture

Queen’s Park—MPP Toby Barrett expressed the outrage being felt by tobacco farmers after being left out in the cold by today’s budget.

“Leading up to the budget, we learned that the government was practically floating in extra money from high corporate and health taxes,” Barrett said outside the Legislature.  “Over the past few weeks they have been spending our money like drunken sailors, purposely breaking their promise about deficit spending for a third consecutive year.” [Read more]

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO
Tuesday 31 May 2005
ORDERS OF THE DAY
TOBACCO CONTROL STATUTE LAW AMENDMENT ACT, 2005 /
E DU TABAC

Mr. Toby Barrett (Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant): I've actually been looking forward to rising this evening to speak to Bill 164, the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. I know we'll be here until midnight this evening, so I am looking forward to kicking off the first hour. [Read more]

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO
Tuesday 15 February 2005

TOBACCO CONTROL STATUTE LAW
AMENDMENT ACT, 2005 /

Mr. Toby Barrett (Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant): I'm here today to speak out against this particular piece of legislation, Bill 164, and its attempt to make Ontario smoke-free. I'll be sharing my time with the member from Halton.
What I just said probably comes as no surprise. I do represent the majority of Ontario's tobacco farmers, many of whom are here today in the visitors' gallery, on both sides, and in the members' gallery. I'm pleased we have representatives here from both the tobacco marketing board and a newly formed group, Tobacco Farmers in Crisis. [Read more]

February 22, 2005 - Speak out against Smoke-Free Ontario

Last week, the Legislative Assembly reconvened to debate Bill 164, an act to create a Smoke-Free Ontario.

It comes as little surprise that I speak out against this piece of legislation, as I represent the majority of Ontario's tobacco farmers – many of whom were at Queens Park last week in the galleries. As MPP, I have – for a number of years – represented tobacco towns like Tillsonburg, Langton, Delhi, Simcoe, Ohsweken, and now the developing tobacco manufacturing in Caledonia. [Read more]

January 19, 2005 - Why McGuinty’s War on Tobacco Will Fail

War has been declared on tobacco smoking -- an economic and social activity that is quickly being stripped of its traditional rights. [Read more]

March 31, 2004 - Tobacco in crisis requires government compensation

Quite simply the federal and provincial governments need to step in and provide compensation. [ Read more.]

December 31, 2003 - Where there’s smoke, there’s fire in tobacco country

Last week, the McGuinty Government announced tobacco tax hikes, and a smoke-free Ontario in three years. On top of this double whammy, farmers in all fields will be forced to pay higher energy bills now that the electricity rate cap has been scrapped. Further, storeowners are concerned a ban on the display of tobacco products is just around the corner. [ Read more.]

January 27, 2003 - The voice of tobacco country will continue to be heard

As we plunge further into the new millennium, the efforts of the ‘anti’ crowd are intensifying – whether it be anti-tobacco, anti-meat, or anti-coal, their lobbying efforts attack significant foundations of our economy.  What would happen to our economy – our tobacco or beef farmers, or Nanticoke – if the anti’s were to dominate? [Read more.]

September 25, 2002 - I oppose federal/ provincial tobacco tax hikes

As an MPP for tobacco country, I have always opposed federal/provincial tobacco tax hikes – they take us down the road to the days of smuggling, theft and the unregulated use of the early 1990’s.  And instead of increased tobacco taxes discouraging young people from smoking – as the anti’s often argue – they actually make it easier for our children to find cheap “smokes” from the trunk of a car, no proof of age required. [Read more.]

March 8, 2002 - Tobacco farm families speak with one voice 

This past week marked an historic period for our area’s tobacco-growing way of life. 

With a 98.5 per cent vote, Ontario’s tobacco farmers sent a clear message to reject direct contract buying of tobacco.  An unprecedented 89.5 per cent of eligible voters turned out to 19 polling stations throughout the province to register their strong and unified disapproval of the proposal from Imperial Tobacco. [Read more.]

There is a sense of urgency throughout tobacco country

The clock has been ticking and time has run out – the deadline for farmers to decide to convert their kilns to cure low-nitrosamine tobacco has arrived. There is a sense of urgency throughout tobacco country as farmers, and in many cases their bankers, make decisions on financing this year’s crop. [Read more.]

July 26, 2000 - Setting the record straight on tobacco taxes

Recently, Liberal MP Bob Speller has written letters to editors of area newspapers regarding the issue of tobacco taxes in the wake of the federal government’s plan to raise levies on cigarettes. In attempting to defend his record, Mr. Speller has misled many local tobacco farmers and residents about federal-provincial tobacco taxation. [Read more.]

April 14,1999 - The ‘anti’s’ are attacking tobacco again

While farmers have been busy sowing their greenhouses and selling tobacco, the anti-tobacco zealots have also had a busy spring trying to sow something much different - stronger anti-tobacco measures.   The "anti’s" have lobbied government intensively, favouring anti-tobacco legislation, anti-tobacco taxes in some provinces, and lawsuits against tobacco companies.  The anti-tobacco lobby has been supported by the Mcguinty Liberals, who have attacked the Mike Harris government for being pro-tobacco. [Read more.]

The Voice of Tobacco Country Deserves to be Heard

This is my business. I own the property. Why do I have to tell a customer to take a cigarette out of his mouth before I sell him equipment for his tobacco farm?

As MPP for tobacco country I hear time and time again the frustration local people have with aspects of the Tobacco Control Act. Many area businesses and municipalities want the decision to smoke or not left up to adults – not politicians. More specifically, some businesses want the choice of NOT posting ‘NO SMOKING’ signs. [Read more.]

March 4, 1998 - Tobacco Taxes, Lawsuits, and Lost Rights

Whether it be lawsuits brought by several American states against tobacco companies, regulation of customers in business establishments, or cigarette taxes, tobacco has been making headlines lately. However, this appears to have had little, if any, impact on the strength of the current tobacco market here in Ontario – sales in the Tillsonburg and Delhi Auction exchanges remain stable. [Read more.]