Ontario police given power to seize illegal cigarettes without approval
Posted Apr 21, 2011 12:46:18 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – Ontario’s opposition parties aren’t impressed with word police will be given powers to seize illegal cigarettes when they see them.
The Liberal government will introduce changes to the Smoke Free Ontario Act so police can seize contraband cigarettes without first phoning the Revenue Ministry.
There will also be new fines for possession of contraband tobacco products, but the actual penalties have not yet been made public.
New Democrat health critic France Gelinas says she assumed police already had authority to seize contraband smokes or any illegal merchandise.
Progressive Conservative critic Lisa MacLeod says the Liberals waited eight years to deal with illegal cigarettes and still aren’t going after the manufacturers and distributors.
The province will also announce funding for new programs to help people quit smoking.
