By Jeff Helsdon STAFF WRITER
Wednesday December 12, 2007
Flue farmers had themselves a ‘convoy’ Monday as more than 200 vehicles took part in a protest travelling from the Delhi tobacco auction exchange to Six Nations to bring attention to the need for an exit package.
Taking more than 10 minutes to pass a single point, vehicles in the convoy were carrying tobacco worth an estimated $1 million in tax revenue. Some vehicles were flying Six Nations’ flags and bearing Ontario Landowner Association signs telling the government to back off.
Organizer John VanDaele, a tobacco farmer and president of the Oxford-Norfolk-Elgin (ONE) Landowners Association, presented the plan for the protest during a Friday night meeting in Langton.
VanDaele said farmers would continue to give their tobacco away until an exit plan is announced.
"It will continue until the government gives us an immediate compensation package," he said. "If we don’t get a package, we will assume they want this to continue."
VanDaele vowed the protests will escalate and the landowners’ association will move to a "Plan B" if an exit package doesn’t materialize.
He spoke highly of the partnership with Six Nations, saying it had made the rally possible.
"This product (tobacco) has no value to us," he said. "It has value to the government. One bale is worth only $60 to us, but the government will lose over $1 million (collectively) on these bales today. At least our friends the Natives will put it to good use. The government doesn’t put it to good use, they steal from us."
Besides the support from tobacco farmers, the Ontario Landowners Association, of which ONE is an affiliate, had a presence in the crowd.
"We need a buyout from the Ontario government and the McGuinty government is turning its back on you, the tobacco farmer," OLA president Jack MacLaren told the crowd.
VanDaele spoke of the war the government declared on tobacco farmers and said it’s time for tobacco farmers to fight back, saying it’s despicable how farmers have been treated.
"This would be called torture in any other country," he said. "It doesn’t leave scars, but causes anxiety and stress. That tears families apart and friends apart."
"Your struggle is the same as our’s, but don’t wait as long as we did to stand up," Clyde Powless of Six Nations said. "The government raped us of our land the same as you."
Asked previously what would be done with the tobacco, Powless said that hadn’t been decided yet.
"My government will decide how it will be marketed," he said.
Straffordville-area grower Frank Pihokker said he’s been approached by people he believes represent Native tobacco manufacturers, wanting to purchase his tobacco. He said many other growers were approached, but he and those he knows of turned the offers down.
Pihokker took part in Monday’s rally "Trying to bring some attention to the desperation our growers are in," he said.
Aylmer-area farmer Rick Cerna said the government has a responsibility under the World Health Organization’s Tobacco Framework strategy to provide aid to growers.
"It’s not going to hurt," he said of the protest. "We have to remind them they have an obligation to help farmers."
Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant MPP Toby Barrett was in the crowd and a part of the rally. He was glad to see the destination of the convoy moved from Douglas Creek Estates (where the Caledonia standoff is) to Six Nations.
Barrett said he received many calls over the weekend from people concerned the rally was headed for Douglas Creek.
Haldimand-Norfolk MP and Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Diane Finley wasn’t as kind.
"Frankly, demonstrations like the one today aren’t helpful," she said. "We’re trying to work in a collaborative manner with tobacco farmers as one voice and anything to the contrary is not good."
Tobacco is a legal product but it’s understood it is illegal to transport tobacco without a permit and it can only be sold through the auction system. Even giving it away is technically illegal.
Tom McElhone, chairman of the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers’ Marketing Board, said the board will assess if there will be measures taken against those who participated in the rally. He was unsure of the legal ramifications.
"The board will remain focused on its course and that is to get the issue resolved," he said.
Although there was an OPP presence at the convoy, it was for safety reasons only.
"Just because of the mass of vehicles traveling the highway, we want to ensure safety is paramount," Norfolk OPP Const. Mark Foster said.