Posted on 11/09/2002 11:33:07 AM PST by freeforall
Tobacco industry seeks government aid package
By CP
TILLSONBURG -- Ontario tobacco growers warn their industry is in danger of being "wiped out" by falling sales and will ask for more government help, possibly including the buyout of farmers.
Last spring's steep increase in cigarette taxes has dampened demand to the point where the market for selling the crop is moving closer to collapse, said tobacco board chairperson Gary Godelie.
The board released a consultant's report that says Ontario's $500-million-a-year tobacco industry, which includes 14,000 jobs, is at risk.
Godelie said the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers' Marketing Board will present the report to provincial and federal governments and ask for help.
"It seems to us only fair and reasonable that the same governments whose policies are creating hardship -- while benefiting handsomely in terms of tax revenues to the tune of about $8 billion this year -- accept responsibility for their actions," he said.
And that's only Ontario. Let's also multiply that by the REST of Canada's tobacco growers/sellers.
QUICK!!! you socialist morons...raise the tax...AGAIN!!!
Excuse me....... your cig taxes are as high as ours.
Ah, the blessings of government!
Yep, Big Dawg, we have socialist morons, too. They're like fruit flies...absolutely everywhere and absolutely worthless.
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