Ottawa Moves to Close Tobacco Loophole

Source from:  Fri. Mar. 7 2008 The Canadian Press VANCOUVER 03/09/2008

Canadian border guards have no legal right to stop children from bringing tobacco products over the border from the United States. A Canada Border Services Agency memo leaked to the media says a loophole in the regulations doesn't restrict minors from importing cigarettes and other tobacco items. George Scott, national vice-president of the Customs and Excise Union, says what bothers him is that guards have to facilitate children by allowing them to pay duty on the goods. A spokeswoman for Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day says it's not the federal government's policy to allow children to import tobacco products. Melisa Leclerc says the minister has issued a memo to the Canada Border Services Agency to work with Health Canada to see if legislation could be amended to address the issue. Scott says the issue hasn't been widespread, but when guards are confronted with the situation they have no choice but to follow regulations. Enditem