Tobacco Farmers Fuming Over Finley's No-Show

Source from:  CAROLINE ALPHONSO AND OMAR EL AKKAD April 29, 2008 04/30/2008

Immigration Minister says it was an 'inappropriate' forum; farmers say she just wanted to avoid some displeased constituents. Immigration Minister Diane Finley refused to attend a public meeting with more than 1,000 tobacco farmers - a constituency group with whom she has had considerable problems - because she felt it was an "inappropriate" forum to discuss the farmers' woes. But organizers of the meeting were told she could not attend because of security concerns. Ms. Finley was scheduled to speak at a meeting for tobacco farmers in Delhi, Ont., last Thursday. But meeting organizers say the minister's office told them she could not attend because of security issues. When a reporter asked Ms. Finley yesterday why she didn't attend, she said: "The forum was inappropriate to get the message out, to hear from farmers in an appropriate circumstance. I did meet with the tobacco board later, one-on-one, so I could hear the concerns. We had a very constructive meeting - that was a much more appropriate venue." Some of the tobacco farmers at Thursday's meeting are suspicious about Ms. Finley's motives for cancelling. The Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers' Marketing Board was told by the minister's staff that such a large crowd poses security concerns. Federal officials say that Ms. Finley recently received threats from criminal groups opposed to her effort to block foreign strippers from entering Canada. Some farmers said yesterday that Ms. Finley used that as an excuse to avoid facing Haldimand-Norfolk constituents, who have been angry over the absence of an exit program or financing to help them quit growing tobacco - an industry that has fallen on hard times. "Why would you be afraid of a bunch of farmers? We're harmless," said a farmer, who did not want his name printed. "We're not biker gangs here or organized-crime groups, I can assure you. We can't wait for an election year so we can show our displeasure at the ballot box." Even though Ms. Finley did not attend Thursday's meeting, she sent a statement to be read. "As your Member of Parliament, even though we're not there yet, you still remain my number one priority," the statement read. "I and area MPs are doing everything in our power try to help you." The statement was not entirely congenial. "Just so there are no surprises, should tobacco farmers initiate a lawsuit against the Federal Government, everything we are working on stops. Plain and simple," it said. "While I recognize, respect and understand your public right to protest in a peacefully, organized civil manner, negative messaging has made it increasingly difficult and challenging for me to obtain help for you. We've come close a few times and have been set back due to things like this and other various issues." The meeting had been scheduled for Friday. It was changed to accommodate Ms. Finley's schedule, only to have her cancel. About 1,500 farmers and their families attended. "I can't say enough how disappointed our membership was. I feel very saddened that she wasn't able to make it out here and talk to them," said Linda Vandendriessche, board chairwoman. "She really needed to, in my opinion, because we're all hurting. She needed to hear it from the farmers and the farm families." Although Ms. Finley cancelled Thursday's event, she attended Saturday's board meeting, where 12 members were present. There, the board gave her an overview of what faces tobacco growers - a situation rife with bankruptcies, foreclosures and even some suicides. Hank Chromczak, chairman of the non-profit Tobacco Farmers in Crisis, and a tobacco farmer for the past 28 years, attended Thursday's meeting. "She simply didn't wish to come and face all of us farmers. That's the sentiment amongst all the farmers," he said yesterday. The tobacco farming situation is so dire that Mr. Chromczak didn't grow tobacco last year and won't do so this year either. He is selling off his equipment and other possessions to make ends meet. "I have never felt so abandoned by my government," he said. Enditem