Lauzon Applauds Day’s Announcement

May 07, 2008

OTTAWA – Today, Member of Parliament for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry Guy Lauzon took the opportunity to applaud and support the announcement by Minster of Public Safety Stockwell Day on the issue of illicit tobacco in Canada. Minister Day announced action to combat the growing illicit tobacco market by creating the RCMP Contraband Tobacco Enforcement Strategy, as well as a new Government Task Force led by Public Safety Canada.

“The Government of Canada is committed to keeping Canadians safe and tackling criminal activity by taking concrete steps to dismantle the production and distribution of illicit tobacco,” said Lauzon. “Illicit cigarette manufacturing and sales are a serious threat to the safety and security to our communities and our economy. It fuels the illegal activities of organized crime, such as drug and gun smuggling increasing the availability of illegal substances in our community.”

Public Safety Canada will lead a Government Task Force with departments involved in tackling this issue, with a mandate to identify concrete measures that will disrupt and reduce the trade in illicit tobacco. The Task Force will include participation from Canada Border Services Agency, Canada Revenue Agency, Finance Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Health Canada, and Indian Affairs and Northern Development Canada.

The Contraband Tobacco Enforcement Strategy will enhance the ability of front-line police officers to halt and seize the flow of illicit tobacco-related proceeds generated by organized crime.

“This initiative is another part of our agenda to crack down on crime across Canada. Reducing illicit tobacco sales, imposing minimum sentences for serious crimes, creating the National Anti-Drug Strategy, among many other accomplishments show that our Government is committed to tackling crime,” said Lauzon.