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"A Family Tradition for 128 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, February 15,1994 - 15 Straight Talk with Alex Shepherd, Durham MP Last week's action on the part of the federal government to lower cigarette taxes to stop the alarming rise in smuggling hasn't met with a great deal of public approval. But I agree with the govern- ment's decision as the best op- tion for an almost impossible situation and here's why. The anti-tobacco lobby's big argument is that lower cigar- ette prices increases use of the product which increases health care costs and encourages youth to smoke. Estimates of contraband cig- arettes on the market in Dur- ham run as high as 30 per cent. Consequently cheap "smokes" are already available to young people. And manufactures pro- duce so-called "kiddy packs," which are cheaper and directed at the younger smoker. So cheaper cigarettes are already available. Another argument pertains to the loss of revenue which, some would have Canadians be- lieve, the federal government will make up by taxing non- smokers. Current estimates from Reve- nue Canada say the govern- ment is losing $1 billion annual- ly through the sale of contraband cigarettes. This means the tax revenue has al- ready been lost. But, by lowering the tax peo- ple who already smoke will buy legal cigarettes instead of con- traband. This will increase the government revenue presently lost to the smugglers. People have said to me the government is just bowing to pressure from Quebec when it decided to lower cigarette taxes. I think this argument brings out the worst in Canadians. Smuggling is not just a Quebec problem but a national one. And it just isn't a native problem, as some suggest, but a problem af- fecting the 90 per cent of Cana- dians living within 100 miles of the U.S. border. Now the argument that sug- Rotary Club 50s dance hosted by Erin Davis The Rotary Club of Port Perry will be holding a 50s and 60s Oldies Dance at the Scugog Are- naon Saturday, June 4, 1994. The dance will be hosted by popular morning disc jockey gests government is bowing to organized crime I find particu- larly weak. The way to combat smugglers is to make the cigarettes less profitable while stepping up en- forcement. But there are limits to how much taxpayers can afford in taxes to step up enforcement, especially when you consider we enjoy a 3,000 mile undefend- ed border. Furthermore smugglers were also dealing in guns, drugs and alcohol. The RCMP pushed for a reduction in excise tax to halt all this illicit activity. Moving on to the production of cigarettes, this government concluded Canadian manufac- turers were contributing to smuggling since 80 per cent of illegal smokes coming across the border were made in Cana- da. We reinstituted the export taxon cigarettes. The former Progressive Con- servative government, which always jumped when big busi- ness told them to, gave in to pressure from cigarette manu- facturers and eliminated the ex- port tax on smokes. This government brought the export tax back in the amount of $8 per carton. We also imposed an income tax surtax of 40 per cent on the profits of manufac- turers which will fund health programs and anti-smoking promotions aimed at women and youth. Some people, particularly members of the provincial gov- ernment, like to tell this story another way. The fact is, you can't solve the smuggling prob- lem by ignoringit. This government has taken a leadership role which is what we were elected to do in the first place. Kids over 18 wanted Everyone 18 years and over are cordially invited to our next meeting which is being held on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Kinsmen "Scout" Hall. Our guest speaker will be Lt. Gov- ernor Brian Wick of the Brook- lin Optimist Club. We'd like to form....for our kids a chess club - lessons avail- able; a bridge club - course available and a dart club - in- struction available, as well as learning to cook/bake and learn- ing to be a ham operator. Plus a Junior Optimist Club for kids from Grades 5-8 and an Octa- gon Club for kids in Grades 9 and 10. Please telephone Carol at Gord Says... 985-7722 or Jack at 985-4527. Interested in learning the ba- sics for trades such as carpen- try, electrical, plumbing, small engines, motor vehicle repairs/ _maintenance, sewing, knitting 'or crocheting? Adults - are yow interested in helping to teach or show our kids how? How about sharing some- thing you have enjoyed over the years with our kids of Scugug? Call Carol or Jack. Our would love to try and have fun trying. Join us next Wednesday. In- vite a friend. Help us to help kids to help themselves and have fun. Take driving lessons in high school. Watch for the date in this paper. All high school students welcome. 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