Canadian Buyout Money Should Survive Election

Source from:  tobaccojournal.com Sep 18, 2008 10/17/2008

Canadian tobacco growers should not have to worry whether their recently-announced buyout money will be changed after the country's general election. A recent article in the St. Thomas Times-Journal of St, Thomas, Ontario reported that the chairman of the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers said Tuesday that "those dollars have been secured for us." Linda Vandendriessche said she was assured by federal officials that the $300 million pledged for a buyout by the federal government on August 1 is secure. The money came from a fine paid by two tobacco companies after taking a plea deal in a cigarette smuggling case. Meetings have already been held designing a strategy to get the money to the growers. Vandendriessche said her board was not consulted in those talks. The next step for the board is to get the Ontario government to participate in the buyout, which it has consistently refused to do. Enditem