Jump to full article: Canada Newswire (CNW) (ca), 2009-03-24
Author: IMPERIAL TOBACCO CANADA
Intro: Imperial Tobacco Canada stated today
that Ontario's lawmakers should take a stand against the rampant sales of
illegal tobacco in Ontario rather than adopting politically expedient
legislation such as the Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act
when they return to Queen's Park this week.
"The Government of Ontario cannot claim that this legislation has
anything to do with public health when they are ignoring half the market.
Illegal tobacco accounts for close to 50 per cent of tobacco purchases in
Ontario - the most in Canada," said Benjamin Kemball, president and CEO of
Imperial Tobacco Canada. "It is hypocritical that the Government of Ontario
turns around and sues a legal industry that they oversee and license while it
allows an illegal tobacco industry to flourish."
The illegal tobacco trade is robbing Canadians of government revenue,
undermining tobacco control initiatives, exposing children to cheap cigarettes
and allowing organized crime to cash in all the way to the bank. . . .
"This legislation is simply a cash grab. If the government is looking for
money, it would be far better to deal with the illegal market than enter into
years of legal wrangling that will not result in the monetary windfall the
government is hoping for," said Mr. Kemball. "It is time for a government to
take a stand. We expect that the Government of Ontario will include the
illegal manufacturers in any lawsuit it may bring forward."
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