TORONTO ?" The Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA) earlier this week blasted the New Democratic Party (NDP) for proposing curbs on the use of flavoring agents in tobacco products, yet failing to address contraband tobacco sales.

"Yesterday, the NDP has introduced another private members bill that targets the legal industry and ignores the real tobacco threat to young people ?" contraband," said Michel Gadbois, Senior Vice President of the CCSA. "The reality is that it demonstrates that politicians of all stripes are completely out of touch with the tobacco issues facing the country."

While the CCSA said that it supports the intent of the proposal ?" protecting minors from tobacco ?" it said the reality is that, if adopted, the bill would have the opposite effect and would increase the availability of contraband tobacco and contraband tobacco products.

"Millions of illegal cigarettes are sold every week without any age verification, any type of control or regulation and at a fraction of the legal price because they are untaxed. That is the real issue," Gadbois said. "When is someone going to introduce legislation that attacks the contraband problem? When is someone going to enforce existing laws on the over 300 smoke shacks that are springing up everywhere?"

The CCSA said fighting contraband tobacco requires federal and provincial governmental cooperation.

''In December, Ms Leslie herself criticized the Minister of Health for being myopic in her thinking ?" suggesting she could regulate the legal market and deal with contraband," Gadbois said. "Why can't Ms. Leslie introduce some legislation that will attack contraband?"