Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to address Bill C-32.
The bill introduces amendments to the Excise Act, the Excise Tax Act and the Income Tax Act for the purpose of combating cigarette smuggling in Canada. The phrase combating cigarette smuggling in Canada is a bit facetious. When we talk about combating smuggling, an illegal act that involves breaking the law, we would automatically assume we are talking about law enforcement.
As we have clearly seen in this session of Parliament the government opposite is not interested in talking about real law enforcement. I would like to talk for 20 minutes on ways to enforce the laws of the country, but unfortunately it would fall on deaf ears on the other side of the House. Instead of talking about law enforcement, which should have been the thrust of combating the smuggling, I want to talk reluctantly about the health crisis the bill will create.
As I look across the floor and hear the truce from this side of the House it reminds me of a verse I learned in Sunday school. I am not a biblical scholar, but it was something to the effect that the devil shall flee from the truth. When I see the benches opposite emptying as Reform Party members on this side speak the truth about the bill, I am wondering whether my teacher did not have some application in mind for today.
I am going to talk about the health consequences of the bill. I would like to address my remarks to some specific areas of the
bill which I believe display the government's sheer callousness when it concerns the health of Canadians. Specifically the bill reduces federal tax on cigarettes. It makes cigarettes cheaper. There is no doubt in my mind and in the minds of right thinking Canadians that lower prices on cigarettes creates more smokers. That is undeniable no matter what the government opposite says. In particular it encourages smoking.