Tobacco Farmers in Crisis

ABOUT US >Who We Are >Vision >Mission/Mandate >Member Snapshot >Board Members >Our Campaign >FAQs

Member Snapshot:
Average age: 58
Average debt load: $400,000
Average farm size: 50 to 150 acres
Average quota size: 272,000,000 lbs of quota owned by 1,084 individuals in Ontario
Present crop size: 20.4% of quota owned

(Our Quebec and PEI members are seeking an exit and equalization payment that will reflect
the US and Australia payment precedents.)

Board Members:

Brian Edwards, President, libri.wards@sympatico.ca

A founding member of Tobacco Farmers in Crisis, Brian Edwards is a retired tobacco farmer. His family started growing tobacco in 1947 and continues to farm to this day. Brian grew tobacco for approximately 30 years, until 2004 when he sold his tobacco operation.

Hank Chromczak, Chair, margechromczak@hotmail.com

Hank Chromczak has been involved in tobacco farming throughout his life. After emigrating from Europe in 1951, his parents worked on tobacco farms in the Langton and Brantford areas. In 1959, they purchased their own farm in Courtland. After graduating from university, Hank pursued a professional career for 10 years until he and his wife were able to purchase a farm of their own. Along with their three sons, they have operated their family farm for 26 years.

Joe Botscheller, Treasurer, tax2000@kwic.com

Joe Botscheller is also a founding member of Tobacco Farmers in Crisis. In addition to having grown tobacco for 24 years, he has developed a 23-year career as a personal tax accountant through his partnership in Tax’2000, a regional tax service firm with offices in Tillsonburg, Simcoe and Woodstock. Since 1987, Joe and his wife, Karen,have owned and operated a retail children’s clothing store in downtown Simcoe. Joe has a first-hand understanding of the economic impact tobacco farmers have had in the communities of Norfolk, Elgin, Brant and Oxford.

John Cowan, Secretary, jjcowan@kwic.com

Born and raised on a tobacco farm, John, along with his wife, Janet, purchased their own farm in 1975, where they raised three children. John has strongly advocated for compensation for tobacco farmers since the mid 1980's and is a founding member of TFIC.

Directors

• Peter Van Berlo
• Jerry De Carolis
• Darwin Sherman
• Ken Tota
• Joe Slusarczy

Our Campaign:    • Conducting considerable research into tobacco growing, cigarette
                               manufacturing, marketing and sales, domestic and international tobacco control
                              policies, as well as transition/buy-out measures for tobacco farmers undertaken
                              in Canada and abroad over the past two decades.

                             • Producing a position paper, The Need for an Accountable Tobacco Production
                               Exit Strategy in Canada (i.e., TFIC’s “Blueprint for Action” and education
                               materials for government officials, tobacco control proponents, the media, public
                               and other stakeholders.

                             • Launching a proactive and diligent government relations initiative, through the
                               development and national dissemination of TFIC’s "Blueprint for Action" ,
                               multiple follow-up meetings, a prolific letter-writing campaign to politicians at all
                               levels of government and presentations to House of Commons committees.

                             • Participating in multiple local and national media interviews to educate the
                               public about tobacco control issues, the plight of Canadian tobacco farmers and
                               proposed solutions, as outlined in TFIC’s "Blueprint for Action”

                             • Holding a series of informal discussions with various health groups/anti-smoking
                               organizations, such as Physicians for a Smoke-free Canada and the Canadian
                               Lung Association, to find areas of common ground and potential joint activities.

FAQs