Hon. James S. Cowan (Leader of the Opposition):

Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.

Last week the government finally tabled its revised tobacco labelling requirements in the other place — something we on this side pressed hard to have done last fall.

At that time there were reports that the government had stopped progress on the new cigarette package labels that were prepared and ready to go. The government had apparently told the provinces that it had decided to focus on contraband tobacco rather than tobacco labelling.

Canadians were rightly outraged at that. The government backed down and said that it would be announcing its new labels.

Regrettably, some further months have passed. While they have now been promulgated, the labels are not yet on the shelves. It now seems that this government cannot do two things at the same time. It tabled the regulations, but that is only part of the story. The other pressing problem is contraband cigarettes finding their way into the hands and lungs of young Canadians. Where is the government's action on contraband tobacco?

Please click here to read the full text of the Senator's question

Recent Statements from Liberal Senators