Bill C-32: Success!
This evening after 6:00pm Ottawa time, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology approved Bill C-32 with no amendments.
This is a major step in the legislative process.
During the hearings today, the representative of Philip Morris/Rothmans, Benson & Hedges urged an amendment to weaken the bill. The amendment would allow flavours provided these were not characterizing. Other industry organizations appearing before the Committee supported the amendment. Health organizations opposed the amendment urged by the tobacco industry, testifying that it would create a loophole.
In response to a question during clause by clause consideration, Health Canada stated that the bill would not affect products manufactured only for export sale out of Canada.
The bill will now be sent to the full Senate for third reading.
Below is a Canadian Press news item from about 3:30pm today.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU to the very many who communicated their support for the bill to Senators.
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http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iFhox6FCfzjY9cVHUVQz6fCpydJg
Quebec Tories back away from changes to flavoured-tobacco bill
By Steve Rennie (CP) – Sept. 28, 2009
OTTAWA — Canada’s rookie health minister appears to have won a political tug-of-war with her Quebec colleagues over contentious changes to flavoured-tobacco controls.
The Quebec wing of the Conservative caucus had pulled for amendments that would ban some flavours and additives in cigars and cigarettes but not others.
But Leona Aglukkaq tugged back harder.
“I met with the Quebec caucus and they’re in support of the legislation as is,” she said Wednesday.
Bill C-32, also known as the Cracking Down on Tobacco Marketing Aimed at Youth Act, would ban all flavours and additives in tobacco products except for menthol.
The legislation unanimously passed the House of Commons in June with the support of all three opposition parties.
But Tories from Quebec pushed for changes after Rothmans warned it might have to rethink plans to expand its Quebec City plant – jeopardizing some 330 jobs – if the legislation passed without any amendments.
The Quebec Conservative caucus, led by former foreign affairs minister Maxime Bernier, deemed the legislation too broad.
They said the bill, as is, would ban hundreds of other ingredients, including some used to make American blended cigarettes that contain Burley tobacco.
“Freedom of choice is a fundamental principle in a civilized society. We can think what we want about the act of smoking (personally, I don’t smoke), but it remains legal,” Bernier wrote on his blog last week.
“There is no reason to deprive adult smokers of the possibility of choosing between cigarettes that contain Burley tobacco, and cigarettes that contain Virginia tobacco, even if those who choose the first are in a minority.”
He was more contrite in Wednesday’s blog post.
“I took a stand in favour of amendments to Bill C-32 in order protect the freedom of choice of adult smokers, while maintaining the ban on small cigars with fruit and confectionery-style flavours,” he wrote.
“Unfortunately, the debate within our party has led to a decision which is contrary to the one I have supported. In politics, one sometimes wins battles, sometimes loses others.
“As a team player, I have chosen to rally the large consensus within my team, though without repudiating the principles that I have defended.”
He declined to comment further.
Public Works Minister Christian Paradis, the Conservatives’ Quebec lieutenant, said it’s important to protect jobs at Rothmans while also keeping cigarettes away from children.
The Senate was hearing from tobacco companies, industry groups and anti-smoking groups late Wednesday.
Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
