Prime Minister Taken to Task Over 'Unscrupulous' Remark

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 07/08/2010

Imperial Tobacco Canada has objected to a suggestion by the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, that the tobacco industry as a whole engages in unscrupulous marketing practices aimed at enticing youth to smoke. "We do not and never have manufactured candy-flavored cigarettes, cigars, or cigarillos and we are adamant that kids should not smoke," said John Clayton, vice president, corporate affairs. "We make a legal product for adult consumers who have made a choice to continue smoking in spite of the known risks." The prime minister's statement on July 4 coincided with the enforcement of the Cracking Down on Tobacco Marketing Aimed at Youth Act (Bill C-32), which makes it illegal for Canadian retailers to sell candy-flavored cigarillos. "At Imperial Tobacco Canada, we supported the initial intention behind this legislation and we agree that youth should not have access to tobacco products of any kind," added Clayton. In a note posted on Imperial's website, Clayton cautioned, however, that the new legislation would not have its intended effect until governments become more serious about cracking down on illegal sales of contraband tobacco. Candy-flavored tobacco products were readily available at Smoke Shacks on First Nations reserves in Ontario and Quebec and through traffickers across the country, the note alleged. These products were sold at a fraction of the price of legal tobacco and no proof of age was required. "While we applaud the federal government's commitment to protecting Canada's young people, we continue to urge governments at all levels - and particularly Health Canada - to address the contraband problem that has exploded in Canada over the past decade and that undermines every tobacco-related regulation introduced by governments," said Mr. Clayton. "Once again, the government is quick to attack the legal tobacco manufacturers, while refusing to deal with today's most pressing and obvious tobacco issue, contraband. Unfortunately, the government is afraid to deal with this issue simply because it is too 'politically sensitive'." Enditem