Stagg Editorial- March 1994

Newfoundland Liberal Member of Parliament, George Baker has shown the courage of his convictions in coming out vehemently against Party Leader and Prime Minister Jean Chretien by opposing Chretien's decision to lower tobacco taxes for the benefit of a beleaguered Provincial Liberal Government in Quebec.

Baker's decision to fight his own Liberal Government on this issue sets him apart from such toadies as Federal Health Minister, Diane Marleau who has attempted to justify cuts in cigarette taxes in the face of overwhelming opposition from all Health Ministers except those in Quebec and New Brunswick.

Surely George Baker understands that lowering taxes simply encourages people to buy more cigarettes and thus advances the decay of health that continues to drag on our already overburdened health system.

Obviously the Liberal Government is unconcerned that smokers demands for health services will increase while non-smokers continue to pay an increasing burden for the self-induced diseases that smokers suffer.

How many Canadians will want to see one of their blameless and innocent children wait for necessary health care because smokers and their unnecessary illnesses have monopolized and used up precious health services for the treatment of their illnesses. That is the game that Jean Chretien and his cowardly crew have played.

Maybe George Baker should look at making himself into a Reform Party beachhead in Newfoundland. His experience and integrity would go a long way toward sustaining this new party on the Eastern extremity of Canada.

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