OTTAWA, May 28, 2015 /CNW/ - This Sunday is the World Health Organization's World No Tobacco Day, an annual event that is particularly relevant to the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT) given that this year's theme is focused on stopping the illegal trade of tobacco products. For years, the NCACT has been committed to raising awareness on how illegal cigarettes fund organized crime, facilitate youth smoking and cost governments billions in lost tax revenue.
"This year's World No Tobacco Day is all about the global fight on illegal cigarettes, an illicit market that accounts for as much as one in every 10 cigarettes consumed globally," said Gary Grant, a 39-year veteran of the Toronto Police Service and national spokesperson for the NCACT. "While contraband tobacco is a major problem internationally, it is shockingly prevalent in Canada, particularly in Ontario where 1-in-3 cigarettes purchased are illegal and the estimated provincial tax loss is upwards of $1.1 billion a year."
Contraband tobacco is something all levels of government should be concerned about. There have been some recent steps forward made by the federal government with the enactment of Bill C-10, the Tackling Contraband Tobacco Act, and provincially with Ontario's 2015 Budget commitments and Quebec's Bill 59, but more remains to be done. The criminals that are involved in the trade, which impacts communities across Canada, will adapt and not easily give up on a lucrative source of revenue
"Illegal cigarettes fund organized crime," continued Grant. "The RCMP estimates that there are about 175 criminal gangs in Canada that use profits from contraband tobacco as a cash cow to finance their other activities, including guns, drugs and human smuggling. Its low price and easy accessibility make it a key source for youth smoking. In fact, a study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has flagged contraband's easy availability as a prime reason for Ontario's youth smoking rate."
Illegal cigarettes bring Canada's youth into contact with some of our country's least desirable elements. Many contraband tobacco dealers are also involved in the sale of other illicit materials like drugs and weapons, and these criminals can even be linked to human smuggling. So this is something that parents from all communities should be concerned about.
"Contraband tobacco undermines government's tobacco control regulations and education efforts. Baggies filled with illegal cigarettes contain little or no warnings. If young people are not asked to show identification when buying illicit products, it makes it impossible to control their access to tobacco," concluded Grant. "Society loses. Organized crime wins."
ABOUT THE NCACT
The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco is a Canadian advocacy group formed by organizations and associations 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 are: Association des détaillants en alimentation du Québec (ADA), Association des marchands dépanneurs et épiciers du Québec (AMDEQ), Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA), Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers Council, Conseil du patronat du Québec (CPQ), Customs and Immigration Union, Échec au crime Québec, Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ), Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA), National Convenience Stores Distributors Association (NACDA), Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Retail Council of Canada, Toronto Crime Stoppers and United Korean Commerce and Industry Association (UKCIA).
SOURCE National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT)
To arrange interviews with Mr. Grant, please contact: Cynthia Waldmeier, NCACT Public Affairs, Telephone: 613-894-2128 (cell); 1-866-566-5961 (office), Email: [email protected]
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