Media Advisory - NCACT Warns of Effects of Banning Legal Product Before Properly Tackling Contraband Tobacco

TORONTO, Dec 2, 2014 /CNW/ -

Who:	Gary Grant, National Spokesperson for the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT), a 39 year veteran of the Toronto Police Service
What:	Mr. Grant will highlight concerns that Bill 45, the Making Healthy Choices Act, 2014, will support Ontario's booming contraband tobacco market. NCACT is concerned that measures in the bill to ban menthol and other flavoured tobacco products will, without appropriate action to address contraband tobacco, only fuel the thriving illegal market.
Why:	One third of the cigarettes purchased in Ontario are illegal. Contraband tobacco is a cash cow for organized crime, with the RCMP estimating that about 175 criminal gangs participate in the trade. Without action against contraband tobacco, Bill 45, which bans menthol and other flavoured tobacco products, risks moving hundreds of millions of cigarettes annually to the illegal market. Unfortunately, while the Ontario Government has made repeated commitments to take such action for a number of years, they have yet to do so.
When:	December 3^rd 2014
	9:00am
Where:	Queen's park Media studio
	Main Legislature Building

9:30am onward Gary Grant will be available for comment

About NCACT

The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco is a Canadian advocacy group formed with the participation of businesses, organizations and individuals concerned about the growing danger of contraband cigarettes.  NCACT members share the goals of working together to educate people and urge government to take quick action to stop this growing threat.

The members of the NCACT include: Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA), Retail Council of Canada, Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers Council, National Convenience Stores Distributors Association (NACDA), Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Frontier Duty Free Association, Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers, Fédération des Chambres de Commerce du Québec (FCCQ), Conseil du Patronat du Québec (CPQ), l'Association des marchands dépanneurs et épiciers du Québec (AMDEQ), Toronto Crime Stoppers, Quebec Crime Stoppers, Quebec Association of Food Retailers, The Customs & Immigration Union (CIU), the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, and the United Korean Commerce and Industry Association of Canada (UKCIA).

SOURCE: National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT)

To arrange interviews with Mr. Grant, please contact: Mike Powell, NCACT Public Affairs, Telephone: [phone] (cell); 1-866-566-5961 (office), Email: [email protected]