TORONTO – The Ontario
Convenience Stores Association (OCSA) launched a contraband tobacco awareness
campaign in Toronto and Mississauga convenience stores. The campaign will allow
customers to send a letter to Ontario Minister of Finance Charles Sousa and
Premier Kathleen Wynne directly from the store via an electronic tablet. The
letter encourages the Ontario Government to follow through on its 2012 Budget
commitments against contraband tobacco.
“We are building on our municipal
anti-contraband tobacco initiative from 2012 that saw several dozen municipal
governments (representing over 40% of Ontarians) pass motions urging the
government to take action on contraband tobacco,” said Dave Bryans, CEO of the
OCSA, in a press release. “Our new campaign will provide individual retail
customers an opportunity to voice their concerns on contraband tobacco.”
Ontarians are growing
increasingly concerned about contraband tobacco, as shown in a recent public
opinion survey conducted by the OCSA. According to the survey (conducted in
April 2013 by Abacus Data), 41% of Ontarians believe contraband tobacco is a
problem. In addition, 75% of Ontarians agree that raising taxes will cause a
surge in the use of contraband tobacco, thereby increasing illegal smuggling of
the product into the province.
“This campaign is a way
for our retailers to engage local customers about the perils of contraband
tobacco-not only its effects on small business owners but the loss of
government revenue, the effect on public safety and the increase in youth
access to illegal tobacco products,” said Bryans.