Evidence of meeting #30 for Public Safety and National Security in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cigarettes.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Senior Policy Analyst, Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Coalition for Action on Tobacco
Yes. It needs to come to an end.
Conservative
Liberal
Lloyd St. Amand Liberal Brant, ON
Thank you for your indulgence, Mr. Chair.
Just picking up on what Mr. Goldring was saying, 90% of it--or the vast amount in any event--is being manufactured illegally in the United States with tobacco that is perhaps from Canada, North Carolina, Brazil, or whatever. What are the mechanics of it then being smuggled into Canada? Is the large majority smuggled across the St. Lawrence River?
Senior Policy Analyst, Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Coalition for Action on Tobacco
That's correct. It's by boat, or across the ice in the winter. There are some weeks, before and after the winter, when you can't do it either way and you go by bridge. But basically, almost all of the year it crosses the St. Lawrence River either by boat or over the ice.
Liberal
Lloyd St. Amand Liberal Brant, ON
Then it is put into trucks. On either side of the border, at some point, it's in trucks or put onto boats, trailers, and cars.
Senior Policy Analyst, Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Coalition for Action on Tobacco
That's correct, and it is not intercepted.
Director, Quebec Office of the Non-Smokers' Rights Association, Canadian Coalition for Action on Tobacco
You have to take a look at the seizures from the RCMP. They've increased dramatically, and the Akwesasne police force has been cooperating tremendously with the RCMP on that issue.
Liberal
Lloyd St. Amand Liberal Brant, ON
I know that there is an attempt to intercept it, and there are some successes, but clearly, pounds and pounds and pounds are not being detected.
Senior Policy Analyst, Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Coalition for Action on Tobacco
Only a very tiny percentage is seized. That's correct.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
Is everybody done?
I'd like to thank our witnesses very much. You've given us a lot of information to try to digest. I appreciate you coming before the committee.
The meeting is adjourned.