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Immigration Minister says it was an 'inappropriate' forum; farmers say she just wanted to avoid some displeased constituents
Jump to full article: Globe and Mail (ca), 2008-04-29
Author: CAROLINE ALPHONSO AND OMAR EL AKKAD
Intro: Immigration Minister Diane Finley refused to attend a public meeting with more than 1,000 tobacco farmers - a constituency group with whom she has had considerable problems - because she felt it was an "inappropriate" forum to discuss the farmers' woes.
But organizers of the meeting were told she could not attend because of security concerns.
Ms. Finley was scheduled to speak at a meeting for tobacco farmers in Delhi, Ont., last Thursday. But meeting organizers say the minister's office told them she could not attend because of security issues.
When a reporter asked Ms. Finley yesterday why she didn't attend, she said: "The forum was inappropriate to get the message out, to hear from farmers in an appropriate circumstance. I did meet with the tobacco board later, one-on-one, so I could hear the concerns. We had a very constructive meeting - that was a much more appropriate venue."
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