Jump to full article: Brantford (Ont) Expositor (ca), 2009-09-29
Author: Posted By MICHAEL-ALLAN MARION
Intro: Tory MPP Toby Barrett says he is already working on another line of attack against the burgeoning trade in contraband cigarettes after his private member's bill to cut tobacco taxes was shot down after spirited debate in the legislature.
Barrett, who represents Haldimand-Norfolk riding, which includes the heart of Ontario's troubled tobacco growing sector, said Monday he was not surprised at the heavy rejection of his bill late last week by Liberal government MPPs who are averse to changing government tax policy.
Still, he is encouraged by the debate to bring forward another resolution that will concentrate more closely on enforcement questions surrounding illegal sales.
"I'm moving to Plan B," he said.
"That my bill didn't pass was understandable and predictable. What I found heartening, though, is that for the first time in five years we had a serious debate in the house about illegal tobacco. I got the sense from that debate that more MPPs have recognized we must deal with this problem seriously."
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