Madam Speaker, considering the success of the government's anti-smuggling policy, I would never have expected to hear comments like those the hon. member made today. I admit-in fact, I am proud of it-that I was one of those who pushed for lower tobacco taxes.
As you know, I have the honour and the privilege of representing the riding of Glengarry-Prescott-Russell and the Akwesasne Native community. It is indeed an honour and a privilege as I have great respect for my constituents living on the reserve.
I am arguing today against raising the taxes on tobacco, and not because I want cheap cigarettes for myself or my family. Three years ago, I lost my father to a type of cancer believed to be caused by smoking. I do not smoke and smoking is prohibited in my offices. Smoking was prohibited in my offices before it was banned elsewhere on Parliament Hill. That is not the point.
Here in the House of Commons, I raised questions on numerous occasions about the cigarette smuggling problem. I remember that, in June 1993, I asked then Solicitor General Doug
Lewis-I think it was the last question raised in the House before it adjourned prior to the election-to do something about this problem which was almost out of control in our region. The problem was going from bad to worse.
This is the question that I raised, which I will repeat for you and for all my colleagues: "Almost every night machine gun fire is heard and speedboats are running the rivers at full speed in the dark with their lights turned off pursuing criminal activity. I am not describing life in Sarajevo or Mogadishu. I am describing the practice of tobacco smuggling on the St. Lawrence River near Glengarry in my riding. I want to ask a question to the Solicitor General on the last day of this Parliament. What precisely does the government intend to do to stop this illegal activity which endangers the lives and safety of my constituents?"
That was the last question raised, not the first one. For years I had been asking the government to take action to put a stop to this illegal activity. Nothing was done at the time. The government of the day let the situation deteriorate to the point where in Quebec and in eastern Ontario-the problem did not only exist in Quebec; in fact, most of the Akwesasne reserve is located in Ontario-70 to 75 per cent of cigarettes on the market were smuggled. The level of illegal activity was such that it endangered the lives of my constituents. In fact, some of them were killed. The member opposite talks about saving lives.
I would like to read a little story written by Claude McIntosh, the associate editor of the Standard-Freeholder of Cornwall, from Saturday, July 3, 1993. He was describing what he referred to as the dark side of cigarette smuggling. He recalls a few incidents. Here are a few I would like to share:
A Cornwall welfare recipient switched to a supplier selling cartons $1 cheaper than his previous supplier. His old supplier fearful of losing other accounts paid him a visit. During the conversation he had his arm broken in an accident. He went back to the previous supplier. Welfare recipients are sought out because they are one, more willing to take the chance and two, available day and night.
Here is another incident. A teacher ordered a disruptive student out of the classroom. On his way out the student reached into his pocket, pulled out a wad of bills and sneered: "I do not need your education". The student works as a runner in one of the cigarette smuggling cartels with potential to earn more in six months than the teacher earns in one year. He earns bonuses for recruiting other students.