Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I suspect there are some people in this room who do not like the products we sell. However, I am going to ask that you listen to this message I have to deliver today, regardless of your views of my industry. I would also add that I am a non-smoker. For

Finance committee  On the first question, one of the main problems in solving this problem is that it's a political hot potato. You go to one department and they say it's the responsibility of another department, and that continues at the provincial level as well. So having someone who can coordina

Finance committee  I certainly hope it is true of all of the legal manufacturers.

Finance committee  There is absolutely zero contribution on the part of my company, and I believe that has been validated by the RCMP as well.

Finance committee  The reason I'm a non-smoker is that I recognize that smoking carries real and serious health risks. I personally understand that, and my company recognizes that as well. With regard to the second point, I don't believe that my company promotes smoking. We offer brands to adults

Finance committee  Yes. In regard to the first point, I believe in the fundamental principle that an informed adult has the right to choose, which is probably why I feel comfortable working for this company. Regarding the second point you raised, certainly our company is losing hundreds of mill

Finance committee  With regard to your first point, I've been taking French lessons twice a week and unfortunately am not making much progress. To the second point--and I appreciate the suggestion--I did follow up with that correspondence. I am, I suppose, as--

Finance committee  At present for the baggies coming off the first nations reserves, none of the regulations are being applied. It's very difficult for me to see how suddenly a new stamping put on all the legal products is going to have an impact on the contraband trade.

Finance committee  --outraged. Let's also point out that it's a letter from many years ago--

Finance committee  I was not working at the company at that time. For me to say--

Finance committee  Sir, Mr. Crawford's letter speaks from Mr. Crawford's point of view. I'm representing my company today.

Finance committee  I don't believe anyone went to jail as a result of the settlement.

Finance committee  I share your outrage at the state of contraband tobacco today. What is hard for me to understand is why government today fails to recognize that this is a problem and fails to propose a solution. We are happy to work with governments to try to address this problem, for precisely

Finance committee  Sir, I'm not--

Finance committee  Sir, there is no denial coming from me. I am not denying the settlement that we reached with the federal government. I'm not denying the activities that happened in the past when I was not at that company. What I am saying today is that the illegal market in this country is 33%,