Illegal Tobacco Use Prevalent in Ontario

In an effort to avoid taxes, cigarettes are purchased on First National reserves and moved throughout Ontario.

December 12, 2013

TORONTO – A study by the Ontario Convenience Stores Association (OCSA) released earlier this week reveals “shocking” levels of illegal tobacco use across the province, even around high schools and hospitals, the Toronto Sun reports.

The study examined cigarette butts found at 136 sites and found the percentage of illegal cigarettes ranging from one-in-three to nearly one-in-two.

The illegal cigarettes are purchased on First Nations reserves and are not meant to be moved throughout Ontario.

“It’s a very well-organized distribution network because we went to Thunder Bay, we went to North Bay, we went to Ottawa, Cornwall, Windsor — and we’re seeing the same type of results,” Bryans said. “And Windsor was quite shocking because Windsor’s three hours from the closest big reserve and it had some of the highest numbers in the study.

“A lot of people look at this as a victimless crime and it isn’t,” Bryans insisted, adding there are no health and safety checks on the manufacturing of contraband tobacco.

The OCSA is urging increased fines and jail time for people convicted of illegal tobacco offenses.

“We’re only asking the Ontario government let’s do the same thing that Quebec is doing and now the feds are looking at, let’s make it so you go to jail if you’re caught participating in the organized distribution of contraband or illegal cigarettes in the province of Ontario,” Bryans said.

Bryans emphasized that the First Nation is free to produce cigarettes, but their cigarettes should not be sold to Ontarians looking to escape tobacco taxes.

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