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Government too broke to pay out tobacco farmers, says agriculture critic 

The federal government is to blame for raising the expectations of tobacco growers that they would win an exit strategy from their dying crop sector, then reneging on a commitment because its management of the country's finances doesn't leave enough money to do the job.

That is the assessment of Liberal agriculture critic Wayne Easter who was in Brantford on Friday to deliver an address in the Brant federal riding association's ongoing speaker series on national issues.

"One of the worst things a government or a politician can do is raise expectations that get people to take a long time working toward a goal, only to have their hopes dashed," Easter, MP for the riding of Malpeque, P.E.I. said in an interview outside the lecture theatre in the Odeon Building just before his address.

"There is no question a clear commitment was made and that it came from the senior levels of the government. The simple fact is those people broke their word. It has caused havoc in the lives of growers, their families and their communities."

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