[Intl-tobacco] Canada: Tories blasted for tobacco contribution (new Brunswick)

[Robert Weissman]

http://www.canoe.ca/AtlanticTicker/CANOE-wire.NB-Political-Donations.html

Canadian Press
January 8, 2003
NDP leader blasts N.B. Tories for accepting party
donation from tobacco firm

FREDERICTON (CP) -- New Brunswick's NDP leader is accusing Premier Bernard
Lord's government of taking "blood money" from a major tobacco company.
Figures show Imperial Tobacco was the largest corporate donor to the provincial
Conservative party last year, with a single donation of $4,500.

Corporations are not allowed to donate more than $6,000 in a single year
to a
political party under the province's strict party financing rules.

NDP Leader Elizabeth Weir said Wednesday that although the tobacco donation
was not a huge amount of money, the Tory government should have sent it back
to Imperial Tobacco.

"By taking money from big tobacco -- money paid for by the lives of New
Brunswickers -- it erodes any sense that this government is prepared to
get tough
on smoking," Weir said.

She said the government has dragged its heels on the issue of banning
smoking on
school grounds and has done little else to combat tobacco use.

Lord said he doesn't keep track of donations to the Tory party, but stresses
political contributions have no influence on government policy.

Government house leader Brad Green said the government is against
tobacco use
and will continue to work toward the eradication of smoking in the
province.

"Any suggestion that we are crafting government policy on the basis of a single
donation from a company is ridiculous," Green said.