December 20, 2004
For Immediate Release

Ontario Liberal plan to restrict the display of cigarettes will put corner store workers at risk

Queen’s Park – As part of the new Smoke Free Ontario Act, Ontario’s Liberals plan to put an end to counter top and behind-the-counter tobacco displays in all convenience stores.

“This government is out of touch,” said Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant MPP Toby Barrett. “Such a restriction will put the safety of employees at risk since they will have to either turn their back on the customer or leave the counter altogether to retrieve a pack of smokes. This opens the door for further shoplifting and robbery.”

According to the Ontario Convenience Stores Association, members are already struggling with increased insurance costs due to an increase in break-ins, increased hydro costs and increased losses due to credit card fraud. Studies show that in-store crime rises each time government increases taxes on tobacco product.

The Association feels that independent operators will find it difficult to maintain a business without the revenue the current countertop and “power wall” displays generate.

“In addition, what this government fails to realize is that corner store employees have been vigilant when it comes to selling smokes to underage customers,” Barrett said. “Raising taxes and burdening corner stores will only lead to more underagers purchasing smokes out of the trunk of a car, from a guy who doesn’t care how old the customer is.”

Barrett said that since corner stores have done such a great job enforcing age restrictions in the past, he feels the Liberals owe it to these folks to work with them to develop a more common sense approach.

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For more information please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: 519-428-0446, 905-765-8413 or 1-800-903-8629