Tobacco Industry

Tobacco industry front groups in Canada

On April 27th, 2000, a previously unknown group called the “Association for the Respect of Smokers’ Rights” held a press conference in Montreal to attack federal Health Minister Allan Rock’s plans to provide improved health information on cigarette packs. Association representatives, under heavy questioning by journalists, denied receiving any tobacco industry financial support. This new...

Misleading cigarette marketing: the ‘light’ and ‘mild’ deception

The Evolution and Impact of "Light" and "Mild" Cigarettes in Canada Introduction Since their introduction in the mid-1970s, "light" and "mild" cigarettes have played a significant role in the tobacco industry's marketing strategies. These terms were initially marketed as healthier alternatives to regular cigarettes, appealing to health-conscious smokers who struggled to quit. However, over the decades,...

Imperial Tobacco, Imasco, and the Smuggling of Cigarettes into Canada

Introduction On Dec. 21st, 1999, the Canadian federal government announced that it had filed a civil suit, under the United States Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute, against Canada’s No. 3 cigarette company, RJR-Macdonald (now JTI-Macdonald), the Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers’ Council (CTMC), the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and various related companies. This suit stems from allegations...