09.30.2011 09:23 AM

Will Tobacco Tim fire himself, and his Big Tobacco lobbyists?

Tobacco Tim: Prove You’re a Man of Your Word and Fire Yourself and Your Friends

Toronto – – If Tim Hudak is a man of his word, then he’s about to “fire” his campaign manager, his deputy campaign boss, at least one of his candidates, and himself.

That’s the only conclusion one can draw from Hudak’s pledge this morning that “if anyone did that on my campaign they’d be fired.”

The public record is clear and indisputable:  at every point, on every vote, Hudak has sided with Big Tobacco.  And his PCs are the only ones who opposed legislation that keeps tobacco away from children and opposed rules to stamp out tobacco advertising.

  • FACT: Tim Hudak voted against the Smoke Free Tobacco act. (Hansard)
  • FACT: Mark Spiro is Hudak’s campaign manager and his lobbying firm tried to stop tobacco warning labels. (cbc.ca, December 9, 2010)
  • FACT:  Hudak’s deputy campaign director, Chad Rogers, still lobbies for big tobacco. (Lobbyist Registry)
  • FACT:  One of Hudak’s star candidates and spokesman, Vic Gupta, has been a registered lobbyist against anti-smoking laws. (Lobbyist Registry)

So, when Tim Hudak says he’ll “fire” people for joking about cigarettes, will he start with himself and his closest aides who make their living off fighting warning labels and helping big tobacco advertise to Ontario kids?

-30-

 

 

5 Comments

  1. Michael Coakley says:

    Great Insite Thanks

  2. Margreta Carr says:

    Ironic, they even have a built-in enemy to target: native tobacco sellers.

  3. Brad says:

    Warren,
    In politics, the best defence is a good offence. I get that. But, I have a hard time believing that you seriously consider opposition to the provincial smoking ban to be on par with vote bribery. One is a legitimate policy position, whether one agrees with it or not, and the other is an illegal and unethical act.
    Furthermore, as a well-decorated war room general, I imagine you wouldn’t wait very long to dismiss a member of your staff who was caught publically bragging about bribing people to vote with cigarettes.
    Brad

  4. JH says:

    But she has resigned right? I just heard that.

Leave a Reply to JH Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.