Better Cigar Plan Canada

[El Presidente]

 

 

This is really important for our Canadian members.  Plain packaging will destroy your domestic retailer base. 

Please go to the website and follow the instructions. 

I have spent time with many Canadian retailers over the years inclusive of the gent in the video.  Please don't allow them to lose everything that they have worked for.  

Fight.

http://www.bettercigarplan.ca/

 

THE ISSUE

The Canadian Government has passed Bill S5 with damning legislation to the cigar industry that will put plain and standardized packaging into law for all tobacco products.

We propose that standardized packaging not apply to specialty tobacco products at this point, given their low rates of use, particularly by youth. Regulations for standardized packaging could be extended to specialty tobacco products in the future, if necessary. For example, if the tobacco market changes and young people become intensely attracted to this category.

Most hand-made cigars are crafted by women in the developing world. Canada’s plain packaging proposal will impact these workers and lead to job losses in their communities. If we exempt cigars from plain packaging and follow the UK model, we’ll then help women in Honduras, Nicaragua, Cuba, & the Dominican Republic. We’ll also help Canadian families, too!

THE BETTER PLAN

There is a better way to address the tobacco issues being regulated in Health Canada’s Regulations surrounding Bill S5: it’s the Better Cigar Plan. The Better Cigar Plan achieves the aims of Health Canada’s legislation while ensuring collateral damage is entirely avoided. Health Canada’s own research establishes that premium cigars do not appeal to youth.

The focus of our industry is Premium Cigars. Our industry is not the big tobacco cigarette companies. Our industry is comprised of small cigar shops that sell hand-made products made by women in the developing world. Health Canada acknowledges that if their plan is implemented as drafted, fully fifty percent of the available cigars in Canada will disappear from shelves. This will lead to job losses in Canada, Honduras, Nicaragua, Cuba, Mexico and The Dominican Republic; the latter are the five major producers of premium cigars.

The Better Cigar Plan would ask that premium cigars be exempt from Bill S5. This would ensure that Tobacco would be kept out of the hands of youth (Premium cigars are very expensive, and studies show youth have no attraction to the product). It would cover over 99% of tobacco products and position Canada as a world-leader in tobacco control. At the same time, small family-run enterprises across Canada would be spared the deleterious effects of this legislation.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

We have drafted a letter that we need you to send to your local MP. Not sure who that is exactly or how to get ahold of them? We’ve got you covered!

Select your province from the dropdown below, then select your city. This will give you a list of your local MPs. Click on one of them and it will open up your email a new message which you can edit or send as is.

Once you've selected your province and city from the dropdown lists below, click on the email address of the MP you'd like to send the letter to and your email program should open with the pre-populated email for your MP. Be sure to sign your name at the bottom of the email.

If you use a web-based email (like gmail) or are having issues or and want to just copy and paste the email info, click here.

GET IN TOUCH WITH US

Have questions or need more information? Please email us at [email protected]. You can also reach out to us or follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.

 

[scotchpig]

Thanks for this, I agree it’s too important not to fight for


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[LLC]

Agree and will do my part. Hope everyone else does as well and also spreads the news to other groups they may be part of.


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[BinBin]

Doesn’t Australia have this already? It’s terrible Canada already has ridiculous laws

[El Presidente]

9 hours ago, BinBin said:

Doesn’t Australia have this already? It’s terrible Canada already has ridiculous laws

Absolutely. It has destroyed the Oz retailer base. Those remaining sell more overpriced accessories and ties/pens than cigars.  Within 5 years there will be no pure B&M cigar retailer remaining in Oz. 

Don't let that happen to Canada. 

[BellevilleMXZ]

Done and shared!

 

[Phillys]

Email sent and shared! 

[Arctic Dude]

Tried to send! Emal failed. 

[CaskStrength]

Sent.  We already incredibly ridiculous laws.  No lounges, no smoking in parks, and a tax rate so obscene the government should at least have the courtesy buy us dinner first.

I'm hoping you'll still be able to serve us if the worst case scenario happens.

[Ouftastic]

57 minutes ago, CaskStrength said:

Sent.  We already incredibly ridiculous laws.  No lounges, no smoking in parks, and a tax rate so obscene the government should at least have the courtesy buy us dinner first.

I'm hoping you'll still be able to serve us if the worst case scenario happens.

So I went to a higher end B&M today north of Toronto looking to grab a few singles (damn QdO No. 50's are impossible to find). I wasn't totally shocked by the prices ($48 Dip #2 anyone? how about a $175+ Talisman?) but I was surprised at the lack of selection & some suspect looking boxes (Robs "seconds" would put these to shame). I walked out with a new found appreciation of this place. Where else can you get a constant stream of quality cigars at great prices...

 

[Puros Y Vino]

9 hours ago, Arctic Dude said:

Tried to send! Emal failed. 

Follow the link to get the base email template, fill in the blanks and send. Don't let a technicality stop you.

This is the letter.  http://www.bettercigarplan.ca/letter.html

 

 

 

[Puros Y Vino]

8 hours ago, Ouftastic said:

So I went to a higher end B&M today north of Toronto looking to grab a few singles (damn QdO No. 50's are impossible to find). I wasn't totally shocked by the prices ($48 Dip #2 anyone? how about a $175+ Talisman?) but I was surprised at the lack of selection & some suspect looking boxes (Robs "seconds" would put these to shame). I walked out with a new found appreciation of this place. Where else can you get a constant stream of quality cigars at great prices...

 

The prices aren't the local tobacconists fault. That's gov't taxes at work.  Not all B&M's have the same stock.  It will vary. 

[hedgeybaby]

Would it also be worth writing to Doug Ford?

 

[Squarehead]

I signed this petition a few weeks ago at my favorite B&M

[canadianbeaver]

Fellow in that video is amazing and so pro-active. Every time I go to Toronto I spend time with him and enjoy his company. Thank you so much Rob!

E-mailed!

[hedgeybaby]

4 minutes ago, canadianbeaver said:

Fellow in that video is amazing and so pro-active. Every time I go to Toronto I spend time with him and enjoy his company. Thank you so much Rob!

Where is his shop?

[canadianbeaver]

8 minutes ago, hedgeybaby said:

Where is his shop?

Bayview, South of Eglinton. "Smokin' Cigar". Fantastic walk in humidor. And his staff is so friendly.

CB

[hedgeybaby]

8 minutes ago, canadianbeaver said:

Bayview, South of Eglinton. "Smokin' Cigar". Fantastic walk in humidor. And his staff is so friendly.

CB

Thanks,

That's my local shop. Been in there a few times but never met him. 

[Puros Y Vino]

54 minutes ago, hedgeybaby said:

Would it also be worth writing to Doug Ford?

Perhaps.  I've heard he smokes cigars now and then, but....fake CC's.  LOL.

[hedgeybaby]

1 hour ago, bundwallah said:

Perhaps.  I've heard he smokes cigars now and then, but....fake CC's.  LOL.

Might be worthwhile. I sense that there is at least something in him that despises governmental regulation. I keep on asking him on twitter to sell the LCBO.

[Ouftastic]

4 hours ago, bundwallah said:

The prices aren't the local tobacconists fault. That's gov't taxes at work.  Not all B&M's have the same stock.  It will vary. 

Yeah I was trying to point out how the gov already taxes the crap out of Cigars. Might as well just ban them at these prices ... on second thought lets not give them any ideas haha.

[Doctorossi]

13 minutes ago, Ouftastic said:

Might as well just ban them at these prices ...

Yep. I don't understand how any Canadian retailers survive today- the taxes are mind-boggling.

[Squarehead]

57 minutes ago, Doctorossi said:

Yep. I don't understand how any Canadian retailers survive today- the taxes are mind-boggling.

Nevertheless we're still standing

[Doctorossi]

14 minutes ago, Squarehead said:

Nevertheless we're still standing

And I wish you the best in your decidedly uphill climb.

Does anyone know if it's possible/helpful for a non-resident Canadian citizen (like me) to sign/send this?

[CaskStrength]

2 hours ago, Doctorossi said:

Yep. I don't understand how any Canadian retailers survive today- the taxes are mind-boggling.

American tourists.  If Cubans became legal to sell in the states, it would hit Canadian retailers hard.