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Promise of help for tobacco farmers unfulfilled, marketing board chairman says 

Fred Neukamm is a man running short on patience. The chairman of the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers' Marketing Board appeared Monday before the Ontario Legislature's standing committee of finance and economic affairs and pleaded the case for the government to live up to its promises. "We need a fulfillment of the promise for immediate assistance," Neukamm said. That promise was made by the Liberals as they campaigned in the provincial election. "As of yet, we've not seen that promise fulfilled," Neukamm said outside the room at the Four Points Sheraton where the committee heard him and a long list of groups appearing to make their point before the budget is handed down. Neukamm said the tobacco growers are looking for assurances from the provincial government on whether they are prepared to sustain the tobacco industry as long there is consumption. If the answer to that is issue is yes, Neukamm said long-term strategies are needed.

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