Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz has dismissed as a meaningless political stunt a call by opposition party members for Ottawa to find $275 million for a tobacco industry buyout.
The government says no new money is available and insists that affected farmers and communities will have to look to existing programs.
However, opposition MPs continue to accuse the Conservatives of breaking a promise to tobacco farmers in southwestern Ontario.
At an agriculture committee meeting in late April, opposition MPs outvoted Conservatives to approve a motion from Liberal MP Lloyd St. Amand that Ottawa meet the industry request for $275 million, which would be supplemented by $190 million from Ontario.
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In the House of Commons May 6, St. Amand asked if Ritz would honour the wishes of the committee majority and tobacco farmers.
“The stunt they pulled at the committee the other day was just that,” Ritz replied. “It was non-binding.”
Ritz said the way to proceed is to allow a task force he established and is chaired by a Conservative MP to do its work consulting farmers, affected communities and tobacco companies on how existing programs can help.
The government also vowed to target smugglers, sellers and Indian reserves that are a pipeline for contraband cigarettes.
