preview

Why Tobacco Should Remain Legal in Canada Essay

Better Essays

Executive Summary

Tobacco is a very large industry in Canada, providing very large tax revenue for the Canadian government. This paper examines the two sides to the argument; should Tobacco be made illegal in Canada? Is smoking tobacco ruining the Canadian economy? Or should Canadians be given the freedom to chose, and current rulings upheld?
In 2005 Revenues for the government in direct taxation on tobacco amounted to $7.7 Billion. That level has nearly doubled since 2001 when only $4.4 Billion had been collected in tax. The industry also employs a large segment of the workforce; there are currently 4000 people directly employed by tobacco industries, and an estimated 16,000 directly employed in the industry.
Smoking is so much a …show more content…

Some say because tobacco isn't good for you it should be outlawed. Fast food isn't good for you. In 2000, 47% of adults were overweight; nearly triple what it was in 1985, which can knock years off a persons expected lifespan (Munday). Alcohol also isn't good for you. Alcohol causes 10% of premature deaths, and 50% of fatal traffic accidents (Ogborne). It can also cause liver, kidney, and stomach damage, high blood pressure, fetal damage, violence, and depression. Skydiving is dangerous as well. So should we make all those illegal too? All of these things are dangerous, yet they are still legal and freely available to anyone anywhere. Smoking is no different from eating fast food, going to the bar, or going skydiving for recreation.
Losing donations to events
Tobacco companies that sponsor cultural and sporting events and other organizations, is a very effective form of indirect advertising. This advertising influences attitudes towards smoking tobacco products and their use. This affects the effectiveness of tobacco control programs, especially when it is aimed at young people. Therefore restriction on these promotions, such as the new act of law to ban tobacco sponsorship programs, is also to be a source of protection for children and youth from marketing activities that makes them to try the product.

Get Access