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The Government of Quebec should revisit its priorities to focus on the crisis of illegal tobacco sales 

Today, Imperial Tobacco Canada has asked one of its senior partners, the Government of Quebec, to stop its hypocrisy towards the tobacco industry and focus its energy and funds in curbing the growing and unchecked sale of illegal tobacco.

In a statement before the Social Affairs Committee of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec, Mr. Donald McCarty, Imperial Tobacco Canada's Vice President of Law, stated, "Instead of wasting time trying to find ways to litigate against tobacco manufacturers, the government should instead cooperate with the legitimate tobacco industry to concentrate on fighting contraband."

The Social Affairs Commission of the Legisative Assembly of Québec is currently hearing presentations on Bill 43 (Tobacco - related Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act).

"This Bill is an appalling attempt at 'corporate profiling' aimed at isolating a specific industry, in this case the tobacco industry. The logic on which this bill is based could also be applied to several other consumer products," added Mr. McCarty. "This includes alcohol and lotteries, two industries in which the government is deeply entrenched." . . .

The Government of Quebec should take the necessary steps to wipe out the illegal cigarette trade, which represents a clear threat to public income, public health and the survival of small Quebec-based retailers. In Quebec, over 40 percent of all cigarettes purchased are illegal. Forty percent of all cigarettes are sold by criminal organizations that ignore regulations and willingly sell to young Quebeckers at ridiculously low prices, without requiring any proof of age.

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