Evidence of meeting #26 for Health in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was product.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
I will ask this trade question first.
Are you telling me that there is a trade tribunal anywhere that's going to say that Canada, if it bans these products, is going to be practising improper trade?
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
Are you going to tell me, as Les Hagen said, that health isn't going to trump profit-making and trade requirements in this country?
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Excuse me, Mr. Dumulong.
Ms. Wasylycia-Leis, can Mr. Dumulong answer, please?
Mr. Dumulong, go ahead.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
Sure. Tell me how this would have nothing to do with trade.
4:30 p.m.
Vice-President, Distribution GVA Inc.
Well, these products, first of all, have been hidden from view for over a year now, okay? When you have kids walking around the streets or selling these products in schoolyards, backyards, or whatever you want, why don't we ban possession for kids? It would help us a lot more than what we're doing here today.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
If you believe that such is the impact on you, then I suggest that you probably have a moral obligation to stop producing these products.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
It's a carcinogen in the hands of kids, no matter what, and you are advertising it to get at kids.
4:30 p.m.
Vice-President, Distribution GVA Inc.
It's an accessibility issue, Madame, it's not—
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
Look at the ads from your company. You're trying to make—
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Come to order or I'm going to go on to the next person.
What I want you to do is ask a clear question, and Mr. Dumulong, if you interrupt once again, I won't recognize you.
Ms. Wasylycia-Leis, I taught junior high. Keep that in mind.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
I want to ask a question. I would suggest, though, that all of you are involved in advertising to appeal to young people indirectly and to associate smoking with being sexy and trendy and hip and youthful.
I'm going to ask the Imperial Tobacco folks a question. Is your concern that having some of the products on the list in this bill is going to prevent you from manufacturing the traditional product, which is a white cigarette with a cork-like filter that's non-flavoured? If we can deal with that in this bill, will you be satisfied?
4:30 p.m.
Associate General Counsel, Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited
We raised other issues about illicit trade and the print ad ban. But in terms of the objective of the bill and the regulation of the little cigars and overt flavours, if we can fix the problem of the overly broad drafting, yes, we would be.
4:30 p.m.
Associate General Counsel, Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited
We support the intent of the bill.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
So if we can look after some of the products or some of the ingredients that actually will come in the way of your traditional manufacturing practices, you'd be okay with the rest of the bill.