Tobacco Dominates Agenda at All Candidates Meeting in Delhi

Source from:  Kate Schwass TIMES-REFORMER Tuesday September 18, 2007 09/19/2007

The Liberals are ready to sit down with the federal government to create an exit strategy for tobacco farmers. The Progressive Conservatives have pledged to make the exit strategy their top priority if they form the next provincial government. The Green party would like to see farmers get a better share of the taxes placed on tobacco products. These were the promises tobacco farmers and audience members heard last night at the all candidates meeting in Delhi. "At one time, farmers could count on the government," MPP and PC candidate Toby Barrett said. "(Farming) is now in danger because of government neglect." During the evening Barrett said work needs to be done to ensure farming isn't a dying industry. "Ontario is losing it's farmers and farmland," Barrett said, noting in the provincial budget, "We have seen several years now of reductions in agriculture." Liberal candidate Lorraine Bergstrand repeated a few times that she believes the next government will be a Liberal one and in order for farmers in Haldimand and Norfolk to see results, they need to have a Liberal MPP at the table. "Rural Ontario is not recognized and not given the status I think it deserves in the Liberal government or any government," she said, then urged local farmers to continue communicating with politicians. "Be involved, have a strong voice." Although this was his first foray into a political debate, Green party candidate Chad Squizzato said farmers are "the pillars of our community" and need better treatment from Queen's Park. "Every farmer to us is important," he said. NDP candidate Jan Watson and Family Coalition Party of Ontario candidate Steven Elgersma were absent from last night's meeting. It was no surprise the majority of the nearly 20 questions posed to candidates during the two hour meeting at the Belgian Club were agriculture in nature, seeing as the night was hosted by the Norfolk Federation of Agriculture, with help from the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Marketing Board and the Retired Teachers of Ontario. Other questions were raised about funding for all faith-based schools, changes to property tax assessment, nuclear power at Nanticoke, native occupations and the health care system. But for the most part, agriculture was the hot topic. The next Norfolk all candidates meeting is Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. at Park Place in Simcoe. It is hosted by the Simcoe Chamber of Commerce. Enditem