moved for leave to introduce Bill C-566, An Act to amend the Tobacco Act (cigarillos, cigars and pipe tobacco).
Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to present this bill to the House of Commons and recommend its serious consideration.
The bill would amend the Tobacco Act by closing the loophole that allows big tobacco to take advantage of young people by marketing products that are attractive, such as flavoured cigarillos that are sold individually on a cost effective basis and come without sufficient warning labels. We need changes to the Tobacco Act to close this loophole and ensure Canadians are protected to the maximum from this addictive product.
The bill would actually shut the door on flavoured tobacco products, would require cigarillos to be sold in packages of 20 instead of individually and it sets out warning label requirements as is now the case when it comes to cigarette products and packages.
I urge members to support this measure. I urge the government to take up this bill because these measures would discourage Canada's youth, the targets of these new products, from becoming smokers.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)