From: First Nations Drum
by Lloyd Dolha
A national coalition to encourage the public to report incidents of trafficking contraband tobacco products was formally launched on October 29th by a group of 18 of the nation’s largest retailer associations and tobacco companies, much to the chagrin of tobacco-producing First Nation groups. The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT) is a Canadian advocacy group concerned about the dangers of contraband
tobacco and criminal activity. NCACT is composed of groups such as the Canadian Convenience Stores Association, the Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers Council, the National Convenience Stores Distributors Association, the Retail Council of Canada, and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
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The Six Nations Council of the Grand River says that Bill C-10 is a direct attack on their economy. They argue that the Native tax-free tobacco trade has been well established for over 30 years, and their producer, the Haudenosaunee Trade Collective (HTC), reports that Six Nations territory has over 2,000 jobs linked directly or indirectly to the tobacco industry that could be at risk. The HTC says that some smoke shops have already shut down in fear of the bill’s implications.
Jacqueline Bradley, executive director of NCACT, said contraband tobacco makes money for organized crime and gangs and is part of the same trafficking network that moves drugs and guns. Bradley claims there are at least 50 illegal manufacturing plants and some 300 illegal smoke shops on reserves in Canada. “As soon as it leaves the reserve, it’s contraband,” said Bradley in an interview with the Hamilton Spectator.
