Two of three parties at the Ontario legislature say they will work together to thwart the sale of candy-flavoured cigarillos to Ontario's youth.
Dave Levac, a Liberal backbencher, has tabled a private member's bill with New Democrat MPP France Gelinas that would force companies to stop flavouring the cigarillos and to sell them in packages of 20.
"We believe strongly that is obviously a marketing tool in a ploy to get the next generation of smokers hooked -- period," Levac said Thursday.
Nova Scotia is proposing a similar law.
Critics of cigarillos such as the Canadian Cancer Society say the tobacco products are "deliberately designed and sold in a way to appeal to young people."
It urged the parties at Queen's Park to support Bill 124, which passed second reading on Thursday by a 32-4 vote. Premier Dalton McGuinty didn't take a position.
Health Promotion Minister Margaret Best said she would throw her support behind the bill, but support amongst Progressive Conservatives is mixed. Some in that party want to crack down on illegal cigarette sales on native reserves. As a result, the party didn't officially take a position.
"I think there's this whole issue of hypocrisy with this government when it comes to really effectively dealing with the issue, rather than these superficial public relations measures that they can boast about," said Opposition Leader Bob Runciman.
Cigarillos a youth producct
Cigarillos are exempt from anti-smoking legislation because they are wrapped in tobacco leaf, not paper. As such, they aren't considered cigarettes.
CTV's Paul Bliss noted the products come in flavours such as pina colada, appletini and chocolate mint. They are packaged as if they were lip gloss.
However, they are actually more dangerous, in terms of smoke-borne toxins, than cigarettes, he said.
Tobacco companies sold about 50,000 cigarillos across Canada in 2001.
That number had jumped to 80 million by 2006.
""Without legislation on these flavoured products, the tobacco industry exploits a major loophole and continues to market its dangerous products to our children and teenagers," said George Habib of the Ontario Lung Association.
During the recent federal election, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said a Conservative government would ban the use of flavours and additives designed to increase the appeal of tobacco products to children. He also said they would move to have cigarillos marketed in packages of at least 20.
"I feel confident that they have given their word on it and I expect they are going to move forward," Best said of the federal Tories.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Paul Bliss
