Tobacco Growers Get Legal Advice

Source from:  brantfordexpositor.ca By Kate Schwass 03/04/2008

Looking at whether the tobacco marketing board can legally negotiate contract buying is one of the top priorities of a London law firm representing local farmers. "The board's authority might not extend to that," said John McNair, of McKenzie Lake Lawyers. "We're not at the point where we can go before the court about contract buying." Speaking at a recent meeting in Langton attended by about 200 farmers, McNair said the law firm has been focusing on three key issues since it was hired last month. Along with contract buying, the firm is researching the tobacco board's responsibility for the situation faced by growers. The firm is also looking into whether federal and provincial governments were directly responsible for the drop in value of the tobacco crop. He said the government's failure to enforce rules stopping "black market sales" has directly hurt local tobacco farmers. McNair said there is still work to complete before the firm can present options to the New Tobacco Alliance Committee . Some farmers suggested waiting for the federal budget because it might have something to help tobacco farmers. But committee co-chair Garry Proven said the budget won't help. "There's nothing in the budget about contract buying," he said. "If there is anything in the budget about tobacco, is it going to even be close to being enough?" The group's other co-chair, John Van Daele, agreed the budget won't hold any answers, adding farmers need to continue to push for their $1-billion buyout package. Proven admitted "justice is expensive," but said looking at legal action is necessary. Enditem