From: NorthumberlandReview.ca
Government Looks the Other Way, says NCACT
OTTAWA, Sept. 23, 2014 /CNW/ – Today, the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT) called on the government of Ontario to finally take Ontario’s contraband problem seriously. This call came in in light of new information about the trade of illegal cigarettes in the province which confirms that in July 42% of cigarettes purchased in Ontario were contraband.
“We can’t accept the fact that more than 4 in 10 cigarettes bought in Ontario are illegal and has become the norm for some politicians in this province,” said Gary Grant, a 39-year veteran of the Toronto Police Service and national spokesperson for the NCACT. “In fact, if Ontario were a country, its illegal cigarette problem would take it to the top three in all of the Americas. The only thing standing in the way of a solution is the lack of political will in Ontario to address the issue.”
This new data, conducted by a major market-research firm, polled Canadian adult smokers using a continuous annual online tracking study. The survey measured the type and quantity of cigarettes purchased by respondents in the past 7 days.
“We’ve long known that Ontario has the worst contraband tobacco problem in Canada, but now we know just how extreme the challenge is. This challenge is created by low price and easy availability of illegal cigarettes, with a “baggie” of 200 cigarettes costing as little as $8,” continued Grant. “Illegal cigarette sales are a cash cow for organized crime, with criminals using the proceeds to finance their other activities, including guns, drugs and human trafficking. The Ontario government’s inaction is causing the problem to flourish in other provinces and making it more difficult for the Federal government to tackle it.”
