Farmers Give Tobacco Worth Millions in Taxes to Six Nations

Source from:  Andrew Fruch TIMES-REFORMER Tuesday December 11, 2007 12/12/2007

Frustrated farmers hit the government in the pocketbook yesterday by giving millions of dollars worth of tobacco to Six Nations representatives. "This product that we brought here today has no value to the tobacco farmers," said John Van Daele, president of the Oxford-Norfolk-Elgin Landowners Association. "We are going broke, we are broke and it only has value to the government." Van Daele said the government collects more than $4,100 in taxes from each bale of tobacco. By giving the tobacco to Six Nations, farmers were denying the government an estimated $2 million in tax revenue. "Who would have brought that here if we weren't in trouble?" he said. The tobacco farmers were protesting the lack of a suitable buyout plan after nearly two years of negotiations. The Ontario Flue Cured Tobacco Growers' Marketing Board has been working to get government approval for an exit plan that would see farmers leave the beleaguered industry. Tobacco farmers from across the province gathered at the Tobacco Auction Exchange in Delhi yesterday morning before a convoy travelled to the Onondaga Longhouse in Six Nations, where they handed over the tobacco. The bales of tobacco were loaded onto a truck to be used as the Six Nations people saw fit, said Van Daele. "With the people of Six Nations, we can stand together for a show of solidarity," said Van Daele. "Together we can achieve our goal in securing an exit package and hopefully at the same time get the problems facing the people of Six Nations resolved immediately." Six Nations has been negotiating for years with the government over land claim disputes. Those who gathered at Delhi and Six Nations were optimistic the move would attract the attention of the government and help both communities resolve their issues with Ottawa and Queen's Park. "We will be talking with these gentlemen to forge a lasting alliance," said Clyde Powless, spokesperson for Six Nations. "This will endure, we might not see it, but our future kids and grandkids will see this, and this will continue until the government is finally done screwing the farmer and the Indian." Representatives from both Six Nations and the Ontario Landowners Association agreed that they must work together. "It's a strange thing what is happening," said Leroy Hill, sub-chief of the Cayuga nation. "These gentlemen, these farmers, their livelihood, which they survive from, they're being told they can't sell it. Six Nations is being told you can't buy it unless you pay Canada. I don't think I need to tell you the solution to that one." Tobacco farmers are seeking a buyout of no less than $3.30 per pound of tobacco, or almost $900 million for a 271 million pound quota, owned by an estimated 1,500 stakeholders. "The government, if it does not act immediately and compensate these tobacco farmers at $3.30 a pound, we will have to assume that they will like this to continue, and we will continue to bring bales here, and it will escalate," said Van Daele. "We have many more bales where these came from." Enditem