Tobacco.org

• Illegal smokes flooding in; Anti-tobacco groups call on governments to crack down on contraband 

The federal and provincial governments have opened the doors to more tobacco smuggling and contraband cigarettes by not taking control of the problem, says Garfield Mahood.

The longtime head of the Non-Smokers' Rights Association met with the Expositor's editorial board on Wednesday to talk about wide-ranging issues related to cigarette smoking. Mahood was joined by Rob Cunningham, of the Canadian Cancer Society, and Michael Perley, director of the Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco.

"Governments have not dealt with the problem," said Cunningham, a senior policy analyst. "It's an invitation for more to get into the business. The key to succeed is to target the source.

coming across border

"We need to dry up the sources of cigarettes that end up at the smoke shacks."

Cunningham said the most significant source of contraband cigarettes is from illegal operations on the American side of Akwesasne Mohawk reserve, which straddles the Ontario, Quebec and New York State borders.

"We want the Canadian government to pressure the U.S. government to shut down these operations. The U.S. is flooding the market with contraband."

Jump to full article »