Display of tobacco products is permitted at the federal level. However, all provinces have prohibited it with Newfoundland and Labrador being the most recent. Saskatchewan was the first of the Canadian provinces to implement a display ban in 2005.
The magnitude of the illegal tobacco issue in Canada has reached such a significant level that it is fast becoming an uncontrollable social, health and law enforcement problem. It is now clear that there is significant involvement of organized crime in the manufacture and distribution of illegal tobacco products. Easy access to these products at very low prices is destroying the effectiveness of Canada’s health driven tobacco policies.
Key facts
Source: A GfK National Study for the Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers’ Council
About 13 billion illegal tobacco cigarettes were sold in Canada (2008).
Governments are losing over $2 billion in tax revenues (2008).
Illegal tobacco is available at “pocket money” prices and readily accessible to minors.
Illegal tobacco sales are supporting organized crime networks according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Hard-working, small retailers are seeing their businesses flounder.
86% of Ontarians are aware of the existence of contraband tobacco but only 41% understand that purchasing contraband anywhere is illegal.
81% of users, when made aware of the illegality, are not concerned about criminal penalties.
Illegal products do not comply with any of Canada’s tobacco control measures.
Canadian Reports and Studies
GfK National Study for the Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers’ Council 2008
Illegal Tobacco Sales: A Crisis for Canadians.
Click here for the full report
Since 2006, the GfK Group has been contracted by the Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers Council (“CTMC”) to conduct a study addressing purchasing trends for contraband cigarettes in Canada. The study shows that:
Almost one third of cigarettes purchased in Canada is illegal
Smokers of illegal cigarettes purchase in a variety of locations
