The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco issued a statement: “The Government of Canada’s tobacco strategy will remain ineffective if illegal cigarettes continue to ignore all tobacco control measures. If Health Canada believes that these health warnings will reduce smoking rates, they cannot ignore the illegal market across Canada, which is estimated to be 30 percent of … Read more
The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco responded to the April 19 federal budget which included a proposal to increase excise duty by $4 per carton of 200 cigarettes, effective April 20. “While provincial governments are taking a prudent approach to tobacco taxation in response to statistics related to contraband tobacco, the federal government has doubled down on … Read more
The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco calls foul on the Federal Government’s mixed messages on tobacco control in the 2018 budget. “Eliminating cheap, illegal cigarettes are the low-hanging fruit for reducing smoking. Unfortunately, the 2018 budget contains little in the way of new resources to address this problem,” said Gary Grant, said national spokesperson for the NCACT. … Read more
On World No Tobacco Day, the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco highlighted that Canada’s flourishing trade in illegal cigarettes remains the largest tobacco control challenge. “Illegal cigarettes are cheap, plentiful, and are entirely unregulated,” said Gary Grant, the National Spokesperson for the NCACT and a 39-year veteran of the Toronto Police Service. “Without a concerted effort … Read more
The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco called on the government to make addressing contraband tobacco a priority as it looks to the future of tobacco control in Canada. Health Canada has launched national consultations on future tobacco control strategies and a national forum is being held in Ottawa this week. The NCACT’s request to participate … Read more
The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco issued a statement to mark World Health Organization’s World No Tobacco Day. “Today is the World Health Organization’s World No Tobacco Day, something particularly relevant to Ontario given the province’s massive contraband tobacco problem, where illegal cigarettes account for 1-in-3 cigarettes purchased over the past year. “Baggies filled with … Read more
Members of the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT) met with members of Parliament and policy advisors to stress the importance of the federal government taking action on Canada’s illegal tobacco market. “Less than one month ago the biggest illegal tobacco bust in North American history took place in Canada This bust, known as Operation … Read more
In honour of the World Health Organization’s World No Tobacco Day on May 31, Gary Grant, spokesperson for the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco, issued a statement saying “While contraband tobacco is a major problem internationally, it is shockingly prevalent in Canada, particularly in Ontario where one in three cigarettes purchased are illegal and the estimated … Read more
The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT) applauded the coming into force of Bill C-10, Tackling Contraband Tobacco Act. With the law now in force, law enforcement officials across Canada have new tools to make communities safer from organized crime. “We are very pleased to see this legislation become law. By creating a criminal offense … Read more
The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco was on Parliament Hill to meet with decision makers and call for more action from government against illegal cigarettes. Coalition spokesperson Gary Grant said that MPs have returned from a summer in their communities, and the coalition would remind them just how much of an impact illegal cigarettes have. … Read more
