Tobacco Still a Hot Issue in Election Campaign

Source from:  delhinewsrecord.ca By Kaitlin Doherty DELHI NEWS-RECORD 09/18/2008

With the federal election well under way in Haldimand-Norfolk, Liberal and Conservative candidates are wasting no time trying to reach the eyes and ears of local tobacco farmers. It is a hot topic issue that both parties are calling "top priority." "It's been an issue that I have been concerned with for a long time now," said Liberal candidate Dr. Eric Hoskins. "I rolled up my sleeves and got my hands dirty in this crisis. That's what it is . . . a crisis." Peter Hellyer, campaign manager for Hoskins, accused incumbent MP Diane Finley and the Conservative party of "electoral blackmail" by announcing a buyout package to tobacco growers just before calling an election and not finalizing the details. "Of course they had no problem handing over the $300 million," he said. "They knew that they were going to the polls. That's infuriating." When the partial buyout occurred in 2004-05, Hoskins admitted the Liberals could not have anticipated the downward spiral that has since occurred. "We didn't think that things would get this bad," he said. "I have been meeting regularly with the tobacco board and growers, and we're trying to resolve this issue in a timely manner." Finley is not too worried about the accused "electoral blackmail," however. "I am very pleased with the $1.05 per pound announcement that we had for tobacco farmers," she said. "A re-elected conservative government will deliver this plan." For Delhi tobacco farmer Dan Verhoeve, the Conservatives delivered a promise. "They kept saying that something was happening, and at times, we all thought that they were doing nothing, but sometimes the wheels of government are turning and we don't even know it," he said. "They said they were working on it, and they obviously were." With no announcement from the provincial Liberals, Finley said that the onus is on them and not the Conservatives. "We came to the table with our offer within 24-hours of the settlement," she said. '"We have yet to see the Liberals make an offer." Hoskins feels that the Conservatives offer was insufficient. "We stand by our pledge of $1.74 because in my eyes $1.05 is not enough," he said. "It bothers me that the tobacco farmers are left waiting. We need to get the money flowing now, not later." Having the deal already on the table for Finley is a Conservative promise kept. "This is a major issue for us right now, and we did what we set out to do," she said. "Stephen Harper is a proven leader and our promises were kept." With a bad taste in some people's mouths, Verhoeve said the decision is bound to go either way. "If you look at it from our standpoint, the Conservatives came through for us," Verhoeve said. "I can honestly say I'm not as nervous about Harper as I used to be, but having some final answers would be nice." Enditem