Tobacco Farmers Left 'in the Cold'

Source from:  Broadcast News TORONTO 12/17/2004

Ontario tobacco farmers are angry that the tough new anti-smoking legislation introduced by the Dalton McGuinty government didn't provide help for their crippled industry. The Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers' Marketing Board says the legislation has left farmers "out in the cold." But the agriculture minister is urging them to be patient. Steve Peters says the government is working on an aid package for the troubled farm sector. But he doesn't know when a final decision on such funding will be made. Conservative critic Toby Barrett says the new Liberal crackdown on smoking is the final nail in the coffin for the province's tobacco industry. Yesterday the Ontario government introduced a bill that would ban smoking in all public places and workplaces. It's estimated that Ontario tobacco farmers make up 95 per cent of all Canadian tobacco production. Enditem