Finley Votes Against Tobacco Exit

Source from:  Posted By Reformer Staff, SIMCOE REFORMER 06/12/2008

Criticized by Some, Mp Says Motion Was Not in Best Interest of Area. Local MP Diane Finley has come under attack for voting against an aid program to help tobacco farmers leave their rapidly shrinking industry. But Finley argues the Liberal motion was partisan posturing and didn't get to the heart of the matter. "The motion dealt with only the people who want to get out (of tobacco)," Finley told the Reformer late last night. "We have to take care of all of the people." On Tuesday afternoon, Finley voted against a motion put forward by the opposition Liberals calling for an exit strategy for tobacco farmers. The motion would have the government set up a long-term exit plan using a special levy on cigarettes. The idea was initially proposed by the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers' Marketing Board and it would see Ottawa and the provinces provide $465 million to buy out the quota and obsolete equipment. The motion, put forward by Brant Liberal MP Lloyd St. Amand, was backed by the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois and passed. While it does not bind the Conservative minority government to do anything, it does tell the government this is the wish of the house. "This is the clearly expressed wish of the House of Commons," St. Amand told Sun Media minutes after the vote on Tuesday. Last night, Finley said there are four groups involved in the tobacco situation: there are the farmers who need and want out, there are the farmers who want to transition to another crop, there are the farmers who want to continue to grow tobacco, and there are the communities that have been hit hard. "We also have to fight for the people who want to continue, who want to transition, and the community," she said. Finley said she had three separate meetings on Tuesday with "very senior people" to discuss the tobacco crisis and what needs to happen for all four groups. Finley said when it came to the motion, it wasn't about voting the party line -- it was about doing what was best for her riding. "The motion didn't look after all the interests," she said. But some farmers and area politicians were upset to hear about Finley's vote. "She's been lying to us for three and a half years, because she says she's working hard on our behalf but no work is getting done," Simcoe area tobacco farmer Peter VanBerlo said. During her election campaign, Finley said she "would do better than the Liberals" when it comes to helping growers with aid, VanBerlo noted, calling her vote "an absolute disgrace." Norfolk councillor Mike Columbus said he was "flabbergasted" when he heard the news yesterday. He said tobacco farmers are dealing with "mental anguish and distress" over the situation and said the news will not be taken well by the farming community. "I would imagine there's a lot of them that are pretty disgusted," he said. Eric Hoskins, federal Liberal candidate for Haldimand-Norfolk, issued a statement yesterday afternoon, accusing Finley of "effectively slamming the door on the area's tobacco farmers." But Linda Vandendriessche, chair of the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers' Marketing Board, said she was "encouraged" by the passed motion, saying it "raises the profile" of tobacco's dilemma. The board has publicly praised Finley over the past couple of years for her behind-the-scenes work in Ottawa on their behalf. Yesterday, Vandendriessche refused to comment on Finley's vote but added the Conservatives appear "to be dragging their feet" on helping growers. "However, we can only take them at their word that they are working on the tobacco issue." Norfolk Mayor Dennis Travale said conversations he has had with Finley in the past "centred on how she was going to assist (growers) with the transition. I sincerely believe she continues to work on behalf of tobacco farmers in the sand plain of Ontario." The board has been seeking a government buyout of all growers after several years of steeply declining crop sizes and prices. This year's crop is expected to be in the 16 million to 20 million pound range -- almost one-tenth of what was grown a decade ago -- for the same price growers got 20 years ago. Even though Finley said she voted against the motion because it wasn't good for the riding, University of Windsor associate political science professor Lydia Miljan said Finley had no choice. "MPs generally vote with the party line, and especially because she's in the cabinet, there is a notion of cabinet solidarity," Miljan said. "It's part of the political game," Miljan said. "It's disappointing that this is the way its played but you don't support opposition motions, and if you are the opposition, you don't support the government." Finley's only other option, Miljan said, is to leave cabinet or caucus but it is much better for Norfolk to have an MP in cabinet. Just because Finley voted against the motion doesn't mean she isn't speaking on behalf of her riding. "The public only sees the unified vote," Miljan explained. "But they don't see behind the cabinet doors when they are lobbying for their constituents." Miljan speculated Finley is lobbying for some other package or deal the Conservatives would be happy with. Enditem