Canada: Manitoba Smokers Pan Tobacco Tax Hike

Source from:  Updated News 04/24/2013

Smokers in Manitoba are not pleased to hear they're paying more for cigarettes than elsewhere in Canada, especially now that the provincial tobacco tax has gone up again.

On April 16, the tobacco tax was raised from 25 cents to 29 cents a cigarette, meaning an increase of about $1 per pack of 25.

The province included the tax increase in its 2013 budget, with the goal of generating $17 million in revenue per year.

But smokers like Olivia Klavic say they were shocked to learn of the latest price increase, given the high prices they already pay in the province.

"That's crazy!" Klavic told CBC News late Monday.

"It's kind of strange that you can just cross over to Ontario and get it for a lot cheaper," she added.

Others argued that the tobacco tax hike is unnecessary, given that the province is also raising the PST from seven per cent to eight per cent this year.

According to anti-smoking advocates, a carton of cigarettes in Manitoba costs $128 each. That is $23 more than what a carton costs in Saskatchewan, which has the second-highest cigarette prices in Canada.

The Manitoba Lung Association applauds Manitoba's latest tobacco tax increase, as it hopes higher prices will prompt more smokers to kick the habit.

"We do know that there's a correlation between higher taxes and people quitting, so it's a good thing," said Tracy Fehr, the association's tobacco reduction initiatives co-ordinator.

The smoking rate in Manitoba is currently at 18 per cent and has been on the decline over the last few years, according to the lung association.

While some smokers said they might consider quitting, others said they'll just buy their cigarettes somewhere else.Enditem