The tobacco industry is lobbying Ontario Premier Doug Ford to step up enforcement of tobacco taxation, noting that the province estimates that $750 million a year is being lost.
Gary Grant, spokesman for the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco, said Ford’s recent announcement of a war on guns and gangs needs to include action to stop contraband tobacco that is being used to fund the gangs.
He said the trade in illicit cigarettes amounts to $1 million a day, yet the government has still not acted on an initiative it announced the 2018 fall economic statement.
He said Ontario continues to be the worst province for illicit tobacco.
Years ago, economist Larry Martin said illicit tobacco was taking about half of the market and undermining the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Marketing Board's attempts to practice supply management to support tobacco farmers’ incomes.
