World No Tobacco Day and Canada’s Billion Dollar Illegal Tobacco Problem

Who: Gary Grant, National Spokesperson for the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT), a 39 year veteran of the Toronto Police Service

What:  This Sunday is the World Health Organization’s World No Tobacco Day, an annual event which this year is focused on stopping the illegal trade of tobacco products. Gary Grant will be speaking on Canada’s massive contraband tobacco problem, where in Ontario alone illegal cigarettes account for 1-in-3 cigarettes purchased. He will provide comment on what all levels of governments can do to stop the estimated 175 organized criminal groups who benefit from this illicit trade. 

Why: Contraband tobacco undermines government’s tobacco control regulations and education efforts. Baggies filled with illegal cigarettes contain little or no warnings. If young people are not asked to show identification when buying illicit products, it makes it impossible to control their access to tobacco. Society loses. Organized crime wins.

Where: Charles Lynch Room, Centre Block, Parliament Hill

When: Thursday, May 28^th, 2015 at 10:00 AM

To arrange interviews with Mr. Grant, please contact:

Cynthia Waldmeier, NCACT Public Affairs

Telephone: 613-894-2128 (cell); 1-866-566-5961 (office)

Email: cynthia@impactcanada.com

ABOUT THE NCACT

The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco is a Canadian advocacy group formed by organizations and associations concerned about the growing danger of contraband cigarettes. NCACT members share the goals of working together to educate people and urge government to take quick action to stop this growing threat.

The members of the NCACT are: Association des détaillants en alimentation du Québec (ADA), Association des marchands dépanneurs et épiciers du Québec (AMDEQ), Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA), Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers Council, Conseil du patronat du Québec (CPQ), Customs and Immigration Union, Échec au crime Québec, Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ), Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA), National Convenience Stores Distributors Association (NACDA), Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Retail Council of Canada, Toronto Crime Stoppers and United Korean Commerce and Industry Association (UKCIA).