British Columbia victory

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

Cynthia Callard reports on a major tobacco control victory in British
Columbia -- and sends a request for help.

Robert Weissman
Essential Information			|   Internet:	rob@essential.org

I bring good news of events in British Columbia -- and suggestions of what
you can do to help keep these new measures in place.

British Columbia is the most westerly province of Canada, with a
population of 4 million and an adult smoking prevalence rate of 25% (the
lowest in Canada). 

On Thursday, July 30th, the legislature gave final approval to three
pieces of legislation: 

The Tobacco Fee Act: 

This imposes a licensing fee of $20 million (Canadian), to be collected
from Canada's three major tobacco firms in proportion to their market
share. This fee is to be spent on anti-smoking and smoking-cessation
programs. 

A price-control mechanism prohibits tobacco companies from passing this
cost on to consumers.  While high prices are generally seen as a deterrent
to smoking, the government of B.C. wants the cost of these programs to be
paid by the industry and its shareholders, not by smokers. British
Columbia already has virtually the highest cigarette taxes in Canada ($5
Canadian per pack of 20; minimum wage for one hour's work in B.C. is about
$7.00).  The $20 million represents approximately the costs of tobacco
industry promotion in the province. 

The Tobacco Damages Recovery Amendment Act

This legislation improves the bill passed last year which paves the way
for the province to sue tobacco companies for past damages.  The law has
been improved with new reverse onus of proof provisions, and clarification
on aggregate claims. 

The Tobacco Sales Amendment Act

This bill clarifies that the government has the right to require testing
and reporting of cigarette ingredients, and to require new warning
messages on packages and at retail. 

Regulations have already been circulated which now come into effect, and
which will require the companies to test their products for the presence
of 41 toxic compounds in addition to nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide
(these chemicals include formaldehyde, arsenic, etc).  All ingredients in
cigarettes must be reported by September 15th; reports on chemicals in
smoke must be filed beginning October 31st, 1998. 

The government is planning to introduce new packaging requirements at the
beginning of winter. 

Here's what you can do to help. 

The Tobacco Fee Act is being attacked by some political parties, many
editorialists and the tobacco industry. Your support and endorsement of
this measure and the other initiatives can help the government create
public comfort with the measure. 

There are only a hand-ful of tobacco control activists in British
Columbia:  without support from the larger community, the tobacco
companies can mobilize enough noise to get the media off-side. 

You can write the Minister of Health, the Hon. Penny Priddy, care of the
Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C., Canada, V8V 1X4.  Or e-mail her
office at mjensen@galaxy.gov.bc.ca. 

The legislation can be found (Bills 28, 29 and 30) on the legislative
assembly web-site http://www.legis.gov.bc.ca/votes/prgbill1.htm

The provisions are summarized in government news-releases: 
http://www.hlth.gov.bc.ca/cpa/newsrel/1998/128.html
http://www.hlth.gov.bc.ca/cpa/newsrel/1998/113.html
http://www.hlth.gov.bc.ca/cpa/newsrel/1998/068.html

The government will need ideas and encouragement on ways to improve
cigarette packaging and provide better health information to smokers and
non-smokers at point-of-purchase, etc.  Any research (published or
otherwise) which supports new packaging would be very helpful at this
time.  As I am coordinating research for this next regulatory wave, any
tips or suggestions can be sent through me. 

Thanks for your help!

Cynthia Callard
Executive Director
Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada
P.O. Box 4849, Station E
Ottawa, Ontario  K1S 5J1

phone  613 - 233 - 4878
fax        613  567-2730
e-mail    bg731@freenet.carleton.ca