Both in yesterday's Toronto Star and in today's Waterloo Region Record we have an Editorial written by Cynthia Collard representing Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada and others. She is describing the ongoing discussions and negotiations between Big Tobacco and the various provincial governments. What is unusual is that the Premier of Manitoba, Wab Kinew, has gone public with his province's expected $500 million payout.
This is based upon population as well as numbers of smokers hence Ontario could easily receive ten times as much up front as well as follow up payments. The real issue is whether our governments will extort many more millions over the decades by allowing Big Tobacco to keep on addicting and selling their products to the public. In other words drain them dry now and forever or let them operate in order to generate more revenue for the provinces.
Hmm and why is it that these negotiations have been kept so quiet for so long? Maybe the provinces are willing to sacrifice millions more to BIG Tobacco as long as it lines their pockets as well?
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