Mar 15, 2010

Make tobacco illegal for teens

The distribution of cigarettes is now largely in the hands of organized crime and they are targeting our children.

We all know that smoking is highly addictive and the objective is to get our children hooked on nicotine and other drugs that can be sold for a profit.

The smoking rate among young people in Canada is at an all-time low, however, the youth smoking rate in Ontario is now growing because of easy access to cheap, illegal cigarettes.

According to the Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA), a 2008 study found that almost half of the cigarettes smoked in Ontario were contraband.

It’s known that cost is a driving factor for young people who chose to smoke or not. These days, the cost is not an issue because of access to illegal cigarettes. With prices as low as $15 to $20 per carton of illegal cigarettes – compared to approximately $70 for a carton of legal cigarettes – smoking has become an affordable habit for our youth.
Furthermore, the growth of illegal cigarettes means that their purchase is no longer regulated by legal outlets, which are required to ascertain the age of the purchasers in an effort to protect our children.

The 2008 provincial Auditor General’s report estimates Ontario fails to collect $500 million in tobacco taxes each year, largely due to contraband tobacco.

Unfortunately, the McGuinty government chooses to ignore the problem and it will only get worse. So many young lives are being sacrificed and a half-billion dollars is not available to support the failing health-care system.

As health promotion critic for the official opposition, and a former smoker, I am committed to exploring ways of reducing the incidence of smoking among our young people.

While those under age 19 are not permitted to purchase tobacco products in Ontario, there is currently no legislation in place to stop our youth from possessing or smoking cigarettes.

I hope to change that with a private member’s bill that would make it illegal for persons under the age of 19 to possess, consume or distribute tobacco products. Similar legislation is in place in Alberta and Nova Scotia.

I believe that just as it is illegal for persons under 19 to possess and consume alcohol, so too should it be against the law for them to smoke cigarettes.

We must do more to protect our young people from using such a highly-addictive and deadly substance.

The proof is indisputable: young people are increasingly smoking illegal tobacco products and it’s time to stop turning a blind eye to the problem by prohibiting them from smoking in the first place.

Gerry Martiniuk is the MPP representing Cambridge and North Dumfries.