-- OTTAWA -- The lack of any visible concern from police or governments is causing Canadian smokers to falsely believe it's legal to buy cheap cigarettes on native reserves, a Health Canada public opinion research survey concludes.So, once again... we're more concerned about optics... than enforcing the law of the land.
The survey's findings leave the government with two obvious, but politically unpalatable, courses of action.
Ramping up enforcement of tobacco laws on reserves raises the possibility of confrontations between police and aboriginals, for which politicians will ultimately be held responsible.**********
Slashing tobacco taxes – as was done in 1994 to address the previous rise in illegal cigarettes – would likely reduce demand for illegal cigarettes. However, such a move is sure to draw the ire of health groups who believe high prices are the best tool to reduce smoking, particularly among youth.
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You too, can be a member... of Canada's most exclusive club.
The world's last Huron-language speaker is a white man teaching at Humber College.
Earlier this month Steckley published an authoritative Huron-English dictionary, the first such volume in more than 250 years. Laval University also just received a $1 million federal grant to develop Huron-language teaching materials, drawing on Steckley's expertise.