Diane Finley

[jdobbin]

The National Post outlines some of the problems.

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/f...ane-finley.aspx

With increased awareness about tobacco's deadly health consequences, growing the leafy plant has become less lucrative over the years. Tobacco farmers in Ms. Finley's riding have been demanding a federal exit strategy that will help them diversify into more rewarding crops. Why government should be involved in such a transition is unclear, but apparently Ms. Finley, when running for office in the last federal election, did not suggest such expectations were unreasonable; nor has she suggested these demands were untoward since being elected.

In addition to tobacco farmers seeking aid, residents of Caledonia have also turned to Ms. Finley for help ending the native occupation there. Both issues have left Ms. Finley looking inept.

It appears that Harper has washed his hands of Caledonia. Tobacco farmers feel equally aggrieved.

Meanwhile, the Liberals have recruited a star candidate to run in the riding.

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/427537

When Finley first entered politics – she defeated former agriculture minister Bob Speller in the June 2004 election that returned Paul Martin's Liberals with a minority – she often accused the government of over-promising and under-delivering. Those words are coming back to haunt her.

Once the pride of southwestern Ontario, tobacco farming is on its last legs. It has declined far more quickly in the past five years than anyone expected, in part because of cheap imports, government anti-smoking strategies and widespread contraband cigarettes. Since 1998, the size of the tobacco crop has decreased by more than 86 per cent.

"Finley said she would do more for us than the Liberals did in the last seven years,'' said Allan Verkindt, 50, a third-generation tobacco farmer, who, like many of his fellow growers, was crestfallen when the February federal budget was silent on an exit strategy.

"We have been three years lobbying for a program to exit us guys, to get out or diversify into other crops," Verkindt said.

His wife, Marg, 47, guessed that Finley's chances of being re-elected are "nil."

About 150 farmers made a very public statement in March when they gathered outside Finley's Simcoe office to express outrage over the absence of a buyout program.

After ripping up their Conservative membership cards and a Finley lawn sign, they marched to the office of Dr. Eric Hoskins, the Liberal candidate, to fill out memberships for the federal Liberal party.

"I have voted Conservative my whole (adult) life ... but I feel very much that I have been led down the garden path," Brian Baswick, 53, a tobacco farmer from the Delhi area.

If I was to guess, I'd say that Finley has some pretty big problems to overcome in the next election. Eric Hoskins is star candidate in the riding and if Dion can find an adjustment program for tobacco farmers, it will go a long way to taking back the riding.

[madmax]

If I was to guess, I'd say that Finley has some pretty big problems to overcome in the next election. Eric Hoskins is star candidate in the riding and if Dion can find an adjustment program for tobacco farmers, it will go a long way to taking back the riding.

Finley is toast. She will still get alot of votes, but not enough to win. Eric Hoskins isn't a star candidate but is being played up as one. He said some pretty ridiculous things, and his ignorance of the riding was very apparent. It's been pretty sorry state of affairs when the riding cannot produce local candidates from either party, but returnees, who have lost touch, and appear to be more into themselves.

The Tobbacco Farmers aren't going to get their Billion Dollar Buyout from the Liberals anymore then from the Conservatives.

This is about punishing Finley, who has appeared arrogant, out of touch, and nothing more then a party hack.

Her lack of creditials prior, and her deep connections within the CPC have produced SQUAT for the riding, and a bunch of dissmissive comments.

It reminds me of City Folk moving into the countryside for peace and quiet, then complain about the slaughter house, the pig manure, combines running into the night, snowmobiles, atvs, guns, and pickup trucks.

And that is what both these candidates are. City boy going to fix everything. Green Acres is the place to be....

The riding has had to long term reps, Barrett and Speller. The riding bought into the CPC song and dance, and have realized that it is all BS.

The CPC has run away from the Land Claims Crises, and this is her riding. They have performed worse then the Liberals, and that is a difficult thing to do, as the Liberals did nothing .... and would continue to do nothing, but pretend to be interested, the CPC have shown contempt for the riding.

There are some ridings the CPC may win in Ontario, but this is one they are going to LOSE.

[jdobbin]

Finley is toast. She will still get alot of votes, but not enough to win. Eric Hoskins isn't a star candidate but is being played up as one. He said some pretty ridiculous things, and his ignorance of the riding was very apparent. It's been pretty sorry state of affairs when the riding cannot produce local candidates from either party, but returnees, who have lost touch, and appear to be more into themselves.

There are some ridings the CPC may win in Ontario, but this is one they are going to LOSE.

I haven't heard about Hoskins and his comments within the riding. I only know him from his other works which are a credit.

I do know Finley promised a lot for the riding but doesn't seem to be delivering.

Is the NDP going to give tobacco farmers a bail out to move into other industries?

[madmax]

I haven't heard about Hoskins and his comments within the riding. I only know him from his other works which are a credit.

I do know Finley promised a lot for the riding but doesn't seem to be delivering.

This is Liberal/Conservative country. Has been and likely always will be. It is a Tobacco riding, and many believed that they had good representation with Speller. But the party was the weak link, and he paid an early price. Finley took advantage of this, and pressed home issues and said things that would appeal to this riding.

She hasn't delivered, and even still, she spends more time attacking those who question her lack of action/activity. "Wheres Diane" signs have been around for over a year. Two terms and she has been a vacant lot in the midst of agitation and multiple crises's in the riding.

From the local paper....

Many who have been disappointed in the work Finley has been doing in Ottawa, have hailed Hoskins as the answer to Haldimand - Norfolk’s prayers.

After all, this area isn’t seeing the federal funding one might expect with an MP in Harper’s inner circle. Where’s the help for the tobacco farmers? Where’s money for infrastructure (maybe some more COMRIF funding should be announced and maybe Norfolk should get a share of it this time)? Where has she been when it comes to Caledonia? In fact, some will say that since election night, Finley has been missing in action.

Sure, we all read the same article earlier this week saying Finley is working on these issues, but some are starting to wonder how long tobacco farmers and the people in Caledonia are going to have to wait. Finley was already in for a big fight with Hoskins, but now that Nightingale is on the scene, she’ll really need to tighten her laces if she expects to hold on to her seat here.

And here is what being 25 years out of touch can provide.

Dion was met at Rosa Flora by Dr. Eric Hoskins, the Liberal candidate in ... He cited ginseng as an example.

Citing Ginseng as an alternative crop is an idea that has already been in place for over 25 years.....

This creates just as much talk, because it makes those wonder if he understands the problem, let alone the solution.

[Fortunata]

Where’s the help for the tobacco farmers? Where’s money for infrastructure (maybe some more COMRIF funding should be announced and maybe Norfolk should get a share of it this time)? Where has she been when it comes to Caledonia?

Once an election is called I think there'll probably be money for this riding. Will it be too little too late?

On a more general note though, any MP (and especially an MP in Steve's government) is caught in a spot where the leader tells the candidate there will be action, so they promise it, BUT unless the leader remembers that later there is nothing the MP can do about it. If they blame the leader they'll get turfed a la Turner and if they do nothing there is a good chance they will get turfed by the electorate. It's not necessarily the MP's fault.

[madmax]

Once an election is called I think there'll probably be money for this riding. Will it be too little too late?

On a more general note though, any MP (and especially an MP in Steve's government) is caught in a spot where the leader tells the candidate there will be action, so they promise it, BUT unless the leader remembers that later there is nothing the MP can do about it. If they blame the leader they'll get turfed a la Turner and if they do nothing there is a good chance they will get turfed by the electorate. It's not necessarily the MP's fault.

Under alot of circumstances this would be the case. The problem is Finleys complete and utter abdication of the riding. It is really bad, but don't mistake the fact that the CPC has strength in the riding. Just not enough to overcome her behaviour. She is the weak link, not just the issues and how she handles them. The LPC will have just as difficult a time with the issues.

But if you look at how the Provincial Candidate mucks it up and increased his vote total against a Liberal Tide, on 2 occassions, you really start to realize that people will come out to vote, if just to vote her out. The CPC riding association would be better off with a different Candidate, but that is not possible. Expect many CPC voters to stay home, and expect those CPC/LPC swing voters to give her the toss.

She wasn't hated in 2004 or 2006, but now, there is alot of anger, towards her.

[noahbody]

Why government should be involved in such a transition is unclear, but apparently Ms. Finley, when running for office in the last federal election, did not suggest such expectations were unreasonable; nor has she suggested these demands were untoward since being elected.

She likely didn't suggest jdobbin wasn't a strong Tory supporter either. By not suggesting something, does it now mean you're suggesting it? If so, I'd like to not suggest that the columnist isn't an idiot.

In addition to tobacco farmers seeking aid, residents of Caledonia have also turned to Ms. Finley for help ending the native occupation there. Both issues have left Ms. Finley looking inept.

Maybe the Liberals can run on putting soldiers in the streets.

[jdobbin]

She likely didn't suggest jdobbin wasn't a strong Tory supporter either. By not suggesting something, does it now mean you're suggesting it? If so, I'd like to not suggest that the columnist isn't an idiot.

She certainly led tobacco farmers to believe she would somehow help them. Now, she won't meet them.

Maybe the Liberals can run on putting soldiers in the streets.

Well, we certainly know that isn't true. The Tories are making no move to protect the citizens of Caledonia.

[noahbody]

She certainly led tobacco farmers to believe she would somehow help them. Now, she won't meet them.

Do you have a citation regarding an election promise made? How about one saying their views didn't get to Ottawa? Really, the story is these farmers want taxpayer money so they can grow more lucrative crops. No where does it suggest they are down and out or losing their farms. They just want to make more money. I assume their cries fell deaf on the last govenment too, because they're down on the priorities list for good reason.

[Wild Bill]

Do you have a citation regarding an election promise made? How about one saying their views didn't get to Ottawa? Really, the story is these farmers want taxpayer money so they can grow more lucrative crops. No where does it suggest they are down and out or losing their farms. They just want to make more money. I assume their cries fell deaf on the last govenment too, because they're down on the priorities list for good reason.

I would assume that you don't live anywhere near the farmers in question. I do and I can say with certainly that they ARE down and out and losing their farms! Anyone within a few hundred miles of that part of Ontario has been watching the situation for years, except for 416 Toronto of course, which is on a different planet and so is not relevant.

You are dead wrong! No ifs, buts or maybes. If you claim differently I would invite you to head into downtown Tillsonburg Ontario and proclaim your view in any coffee shop.

I would be interested if you made it out of town alive.

[jdobbin]

Do you have a citation regarding an election promise made? How about one saying their views didn't get to Ottawa? Really, the story is these farmers want taxpayer money so they can grow more lucrative crops. No where does it suggest they are down and out or losing their farms. They just want to make more money. I assume their cries fell deaf on the last govenment too, because they're down on the priorities list for good reason.

The problems for the tobacco farms have escalated sharply in the last three years.

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDi....aspx?e=1000808

Ottawa's announcement last month that it won't give farmers an exit package was "driven by politics," Vandendriessche said, and the government mistakenly believes "it does not need the tobacco farmers' vote to get re-elected in the six major tobacco ridings."

Tensions are high among growers. They face a crop size this summer of about one-seventh of what it was a decade ago, at the same price per pound they were getting 20 years ago.

Finley has been promising a tobacco exist strategy since before the election.

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:kJP-fr...;cd=2&gl=ca

Diane Finley fights for Tobacco Exit Strategy

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:FaUl-L...;cd=1&gl=ca

I suppose Finley can take a stand and say she didn't offer any promises to farmers but it is on her own web page how she promised an exit strategy.

[noahbody]

You are dead wrong! No ifs, buts or maybes. If you claim differently I would invite you to head into downtown Tillsonburg Ontario and proclaim your view in any coffee shop.

Tilsonburg? My back still aches when I hear that word.

[madmax]

Do you have a citation regarding an election promise made? How about one saying their views didn't get to Ottawa? Really, the story is these farmers want taxpayer money so they can grow more lucrative crops. No where does it suggest they are down and out or losing their farms. They just want to make more money. I assume their cries fell deaf on the last govenment too, because they're down on the priorities list for good reason.

You might not want to go down this path, even if you do not like the messenger.

[madmax]

The problems for the tobacco farms have escalated sharply in the last three years.

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDi....aspx?e=1000808

Finley has been promising a tobacco exist strategy since before the election.

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:kJP-fr...;cd=2&gl=ca

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:FaUl-L...;cd=1&gl=ca

I suppose Finley can take a stand and say she didn't offer any promises to farmers but it is on her own web page how she promised an exit strategy.

THese are her problems, her promises, and people believed her, because it is very much still a CPC riding, and she had "connections" and people really expected something if the CPC came into government.

IF you read more articles, you will find that all parties voted a few weeks back to support the exit strategy.

The CPC were outvoted in committee. Most people don't read or care about committees, we have better things to do, but since this is one of 2 crises issues in her riding the papers, and radio make certain the electorate know what is going on in detail.

She only has to look in the mirror.

Perhaps the CPC think they can hold onto this riding, regardless. I don't think so.

[madmax]

More bad coverage for Finley TODAY

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDi....aspx?e=1037535

Haldimand-Norfolk MP Diane Finley is an unusual politician. She refuses to talk to the media about two great issues in her riding - the decline of the tobacco industry and native affairs.

Recently, she refused to be interviewed by the Toronto Star. Her reason - as expressed through a spokesman in her office - is that issues involving agriculture and native affairs are not her responsibility.

"The minister is only the local MP and not the lead on either file," wrote spokesman Timothy Veil.

Only the local MP? Agriculture and native affairs not her responsibility?

Scores of former growers in Norfolk are in desperate financial shape because of the decline of the tobacco industry. Are these people no longer a concern to Finley? Has she nothing to say?

Tobacco growers seemed important to Finley in the last two elections. She defeated veteran Liberal MP Bob Speller in the 2004 election, partly on her promise that the Conservative party would do more to help tobacco growers leave the industry.

Finley's riding is home to Caledonia and the two-year-old native land claims dispute. As MP, does she have nothing to say?

Why should constituents bother to express their views or bring their problems to Finley if she ducks issues on which she is not the lead? Finley's boss, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, is no friend of the media. He has gone further than any previous prime minister to tighten control over communication between Conservatives and reporters.

But Finley has hit a new low in thumbing her nose at the media. If she doesn't take questions about agriculture and native affairs, which issues will she talk about?

[Wild Bill]

More bad coverage for Finley TODAY

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDi....aspx?e=1037535

Bob Speller held a great deal of personal esteem in a riding that traditionally would be conservative. He lost last time mostly because of revulsion against corruption in his party.

I talk often with people in that riding and Bob's name keeps getting mentioned favourably. Comments like "Bob was one of the few who understood us." and "We should never have voted him out!".

Now it's well known that I am NOT a Liberal booster but frankly I just can't argue with these folks!

I could point out that an MP of a ruling party has more power than one from the Opposition but it would be pointless. The immediate answer would be that ANY MP would be a better choice than one who does NOTHING for you!

She's toast! The only question is whether or not the PMO is aware of the situation. If they think her loss is worth it that would be strategy but I suspect it's simple ignorance.

[noahbody]

You might not want to go down this path, even if you do not like the messenger.

Which path is that, asking a poster for a citation? I asked for a citation about whether an election promise was made. In response I got:

Finley has been promising a tobacco exist strategy since before the election.

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:kJP-fr...;cd=2&gl=ca

If you check that citation out the date of the article is Jan. 2007, so saying she's been promising an exit strategy before the election is still not backed up, is it? She did meet an election promise to meet with the Tobacco Marketing Board.

The article did answer my second question of whether their views didn't get to Ottawa. Apparently they did:

Finley, who received a warm reception and was repeatedly thanked and recognized for being one of the strongest supporters through her tireless work in Ottawa, said thedifficulty facing the area is the fact it is competing with other larger agriculture sectors alsofacing tough times…….”

One thing the government did do is dump $900 million into the CAS, so all farmers with low incomes have been getting some federal support.

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:FaUl-L...;cd=1&gl=ca

Will some tobacco farmers vote against her to send a message to the government. Of course. All the Liberals have to do is promise they'll deliver an exit strategy, whether it's a good idea or not. I would have to see what the proposed exit strategy entailed, what crops farmers want to transition to, what equipment they'll require and how large the average tobacco farm is before commenting on it. If the exit strategy was some sort of loan program to purchase machinery, etc, that would be a viable idea.

[jdobbin]

Which path is that, asking a poster for a citation? I asked for a citation about whether an election promise was made. In response I got:

If you check that citation out the date of the article is Jan. 2007, so saying she's been promising an exit strategy before the election is still not backed up, is it? She did meet an election promise to meet with the Tobacco Marketing Board.

Prior to the election, she was the lead MP on the exit strategy. She kept promising that if her party was elected government that they would get quotas.

Immediately after being named minister, she handed the job of an exit strategy to Joe Preston.

http://www.freedominion.com.pa/phpBB2/view...813974d0a9f46ee

There are about 650 tobacco producers in Ontario, 100 of which are in Elgin county. Elgin is responsible for about 15 per cent of production, said Neukamm. Ontario and the federal government chipped in $50 million in 2005 that helped 200 growers leave the industry, but Neukamm and others don’t want a partial plan for 2006: they want a full and comprehensive exit strategy as soon as possible.

A negotiated exit plan is exactly what Joe Preston, MP for Elgin-Middlesex-London wants as well. Preston took over the tobacco file from Human Resources Minister Diane Finley (MP Haldimand-Norfolk) just after January’s election. Preston said Finley asked him to take over the file due to her commitments as HR minister. Preston already has some plans in mind to deal with the current problem. “I think the message has been pretty clear from all levels of government and manufacturers … the only thing we can plan is a true exit from the industry,” he said. “They’ve made it almost impossible to stay in the industry and make money. We’ve taken so many farmers out of the industry and made it so easy to import (tobacco), we have so many (illegal) cigarettes that we’ve almost went beyond where the tobacco farming family can survive growing tobacco in their fields.”

As ag critic, Finley kept pushing for more tobacco supports to help farmers exit the industry. She didn't like the Liberal plan in 2005 because it didn't go far enough.

In Parliament, she said this:

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/P...rl=38&Ses=1

What about the tobacco farmers of Ontario and Quebec, two-thirds of whom are in my home riding of Haldimand—Norfolk? Three days before the election was called last spring, they were promised an aid package that would have seen cheques in their hands by October at the latest. They have not received a penny yet. Now the government has changed the rules, lowered the funding and said, “take it or leave it”. This, too, is totally unacceptable.

I have heard a lot of people complain and say, “farmers always keep whining. What are they complaining about. The governments keep announcing more money for them, but the farmers are never happy”. What these people do not realize is that the same money gets announced time and again. It gets announced, it gets promised, but it does not get delivered.

The article did answer my second question of whether their views didn't get to Ottawa. Apparently they did:

One thing the government did do is dump $900 million into the CAS, so all farmers with low incomes have been getting some federal support.

But she promised more than that. She promised quotas.

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:w8kfjH...;cd=1&gl=ca

The time line given to growers last spring has evaporated like so many promises

of the past. The next date given for growers expectations for action is Sept 30. Cabinet

Minister Diane Finley asked for a moratorium on quota sales. To date, no deadline date

has been set for delivery of a buyout program. When will the tobacco growers’ stress and

fears be addressed? The only thing that is certain is the daily decrease in equity as interest

payments on debt keep adding up day after day.

Illegal cigarette sales, imports of cheap foreign tobacco to make even cheaper

cigarettes for sale continue to go on and on. Where are the Tobacco Control people now?

Where is the outrage? Where are the voices that destroyed the domestic marketplace for

Canadian producers? Where are the voices decrying cheap smokes for sale, with cheap

tobacco from another country, with who knows what was used to grow it? Why isn’t the

Government of Canada living up to the WHO Framework Convention Tobacco Control

Treaty’s promises to tobacco farmers? It is awfully quiet on the Tobacco Control front,

isn’t it? Where are they now?

Still nothing to this promise and now Finley says she can't speak on the subject. Neither can Joe Preston, it seems who has talked about the importance of an exit strategy back in 2006 shortly after the election.

Will some tobacco farmers vote against her to send a message to the government. Of course. All the Liberals have to do is promise they'll deliver an exit strategy, whether it's a good idea or not. I would have to see what the proposed exit strategy entailed, what crops farmers want to transition to, what equipment they'll require and how large the average tobacco farm is before commenting on it. If the exit strategy was some sort of loan program to purchase machinery, etc, that would be a viable idea.

Another budget can come and gone and the exit strategy that Finley has been talking about since before the election has not materialized. She was an advocate in 2005 for expanding the Ontario and federal government program to assist tobacco farmers from exiting the industry.