Canadian Liberal MP wants cigars exempted from plain-packaging rules

[El Presidente]

 

https://ipolitics.ca/2018/10/04/liberal-mp-wants-cigars-exempted-from-plain-packaging-rules/

In seeking an exemption for cigars from rules that say tobacco must be sold in plain packaging, a Liberal MP denies he was going against his own government’s legislation, insisting he was just “doing (his) job.”

The Liberals’ plain-packaging legislation, Bill S-5, was passed in May.

Angelo Iacono, the Liberal MP for the Quebec riding of Alfred-Pellan, is sponsoring an e-petition asking the government to exclude cigars from the bill, which gives Health Canada the power to require that tobacco products be sold in plain, standardized packages.

The bill also outlaws the sale of vaping products to minors, and restricts advertising for vaping products, or any suggestion that e-cigarettes are healthier than standard tobacco products. Certain flavours for vaping products were also banned.

Iacono’s petition says “the cigar industry does not target young consumers,” and, “artisanal cigar packaging is not designed to mislead consumers of the health hazards of using tobacco products.”

It goes on to say that plain packaging would put premium cigar retailers “at risk of closing,” and in other jurisdictions, namely the U.K., France, Belgium, and Norway, plain-packaging rules don’t apply to cigars.

The petition was started by a constituent of Iacono’s, Vincent Albanese, who owns a cigar company that distributes to retailers across the country.

“(I’m) doing my job as a member of Parliament,” Iacono said, rejecting the notion that he’s opposing his own government’s legislation.

Iacono said he spoke with Albanese before deciding to support the petition.

According to a story published in the Montreal Gazette in 2011, a company of Albanese’s did not comply with tobacco trading regulations by failing to file 14 different reports, including reports on ingredients, packaging, retail display and manufacturing procedures, between Jan. 1, 2005, and Oct. 31, 2007.

At the time of publication, the petition had 326 signatures. It requires 500 for the government to issue an official response. It’s open for signatures until Jan. 24, 2019.

Iacono has sponsored three other petitions, including one for alcohol packaging, which has already collected enough signatures to warrant an upcoming government response.

That petition asks the government to instruct Health Canada to require that alcoholic beverages sold in cans of more than 500 mL and more than seven per cent alcohol content be “reclosable.”

Asked if he was sponsoring the petition because he liked smoking cigars, Iacono answered, “No.

[Phillys]

Up to 338 signatures, I just signed it.

[benfica_77]

signed!

[havanaclub]

Signed!


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[rckymtn22]

Signe. Now at 341

[dvickery]

Done

[El Presidente]

let your mates know. Get it to 500 

[Ouftastic]

Signed. Thank you for posting this.

[LLC]

Signed. Also got a lame ass reply from my MP on the last petition I sent. I had been think about how to reply but after I read this I used it as an example of a politician taking a common sense approach.


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[Maritimer]

Signed... more to come.

[cookj1]

Signed

[toto]

signed

 

[Arctic Dude]

Signed!

[joncat]

Signed.  I believe I was number 443.  We are getting to 500.  Thank you for bringing this to our attention.