What has the Ontario government done so far to deal with illegal tobacco?
In six of the last eight years, Ontario has introduced measures to strengthen enforcement against the illegal manufacture and sale of tobacco products. The following results have been achieved with improved enforcement: • Ministry investigators and inspectors seized 150 million illegal cigarettes, 978,000 untaxed cigars and 47 million grams of fine-cut tobacco between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2011. • Penalties assessed against those violating the Tobacco Tax Act total over $18.7 million since March 2006. • During fiscal 2009-10, investigations almost tripled compared to fiscal 2008-09. • Ministry staff conduct, on average, 450 tobacco retailer inspections each month. In addition, the Ontario government banned smoking in public places and workplaces and in vehicles where there are young people 16 years of age or younger. The government also banned the promotion and display of tobacco products at point of sale and requires Ontario-licensed tobacco retailers to ask for proof of age whe
