Ontario has major, widespread illegal trade problem

A study conducted on behalf of the Ontario Convenience Store Association (OCSA) in Canada found that 21.8 percent of all cigarette butts collected from 133 locations across the Province during October were from illicit products, according to a story in the Ottawa Sun relayed by the TMA.

Every community, not just areas close to reserves, was “infiltrated by contraband,” said OCSA president Dave Bryans.

About 50 factories operated on aboriginal reserves in Ontario and many of their cigarettes were sold illegally at a fraction of the price charged by retailers, he said.

Meanwhile, Kelsey Igram, a spokesman for Finance Minister Charles Sousa, said the government was committed to addressing the problem.