I thank my colleague for his question. It is clear that we need to examine this matter of putting some inhibitions on the use of cigarettes by citizens in our country. There are a number of ways that this can be done, some of which I mentioned when I spoke earlier in the debate. I think this matter of an export tax would take a lot of the economic incentive out of smuggling activity. That is a very important consideration.
I think there can be better enforcement through higher penalties for this type of activity. There has to be a cost benefit analysis for people engaged in cigarette smuggling. If the costs start to outweigh the benefits then we will find fewer people finding it attractive to engage in cigarette smuggling.
We also need to start educating citizens about the cost to them of the use of cigarettes. A lot of us as citizens are under the impression that somehow things are free, particularly health care costs associated with the use of cigarettes and that this is paid for by government or by the health care system. In fact, these costs are paid by Canadians who work very, very hard for their money and who then turn it over to government to administer programs that protect us from the consequences of certain actions.
Canadians need to have some cost benefit analysis for themselves as well, realizing that the buck does not stop anywhere but with us and it does not come from anyone but us. Then I believe our choices will be a little more realistic when it comes to cost benefit.
When we talk about diminishing the use of cigarettes, diminishing the demand for smuggled cigarettes there are all of these aspects of enforcement and deterrence that are tied in together. That is why I recommended to the House a need to just back up a little bit and re-examine what we are doing here. I think we moved ahead too quickly when this legislation was first considered, promised and introduced. I think it can work better if we bring the pieces together in a more thoughtful manner. I think giving it a few more months and re-examining and redrafting some of its provisions would serve our country better than the bill before us.