Growers Hungry for Exit Plan

Source from:  tobaccoreporter.com Canada, Tuesday, March 13, 2007 03/15/2007

Four hundred people protested in Tillsonburg on Friday at the lack of progress towards a government exit plan for Canada's flue-cured tobacco growers, according to a report by Jeff Helsdon for the Tillsonburg News. About 70 tractors were driven through the town and parked in front of the office of the Oxford member of parliament, Dave MacKenzie. The tobacco growers were joined by farmers of other commodities and business people. The protest followed a similar event in Simcoe, and another was due to have been held yesterday in St. Thomas. Traditionally, tobacco growers prepare their greenhouses at this time of year and the message that resonated at the Tillsonburg protest was that an exit package was needed now, and that the time for talking was past. Helsdon's report indicated that Canada's flue-cured growers were suffering real hardships because of the lack of progress. Enditem