www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, November 4, 2011 · 16 Moms' clout counts Continued from page 15 European Engineering Combined With Traditional Workmanship ren and is simply unacceptable. "We need to tell the government to get this out of our kids' reach," she said. "Frankly, there's a lot more moms out there than anything else. We need lawmakers to be equally afraid of us." Through talking to parents, doing media interviews and spreading the word via social media outlets, Bradley is trying to raise awareness among parents about the dangers of illegal cigarettes. Laughingly describing herself as "a one-person advertising campaign," she offers to speak to schools, church groups and any other gathering of people who want to learn more about the issue of contraband tobacco. While Bradley's focus is on the safety of young people, the National Coalition Against Contraband "We need to tell the government to get this out of our kids' reach. Frankly, there's a lot more moms out there than anything else. We need lawmakers to be equally afraid of us." Jacqueline Bradley executive director National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco H O L I D AY M A R K E T P L A C E F INE A RTISANS AND CRAFTERS "Building on the Brightest Ideas Around Glass" IROQUOIS RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL INVITES YOU TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON AS ITS 905.849.0266 D DON'T MISS THIS INCREDIBLE MARKETING OPPORTUNITY! Trafalgar Rd. Hwy 5 Glenashton Dr. Upper Middle Rd. ANNUAL HOLIDAY SALE SATURDAY · NOVEMBER 5 10AM - 4PM OVER 80 ARTISANS AND CRAFTERS JEWELLERY · HOME DÉCOR · GIFTS FOOD · CLOTHING · COLLECTIBLES DRIED FLORALS · PAPER PRODUCTS AND MUCH MORE 8th Line Iroquois Ridge High School 1123 Glenashton Drive Oakville ON L6M 5M1 P R E S E N TS : N Iroquois Shore Rd. QEW Put your business face to face with your target demographic Booth space & sponsorship opportunities NOW AVAILABLE! CALL TODAY! 905-845-8536 www.westofthecity.com Oakville Conference & Banquet Centre. FIRELOGS THAT RADIATE WARMTH AND BEAUTY. Tobacco points out a variety of other societal ills resulting from the fact that one in every three Canadian cigarettes now purchased is illegal. Describing contraband tobacco as "a cash cow for illegal gangs," the coalition notes that the RCMP has identified more than 175 criminal organizations using the sale of contraband tobacco to bankroll their activities. It adds that illegal cigarettes cost Canadian governments an estimated $2 billion in lost tax revenue. It also points out that the manufacture of black market smokes is completely unregulated. Along with all the nasty chemicals found in regular cigarettes, Bradley says laboratory analysis of the contraband versions has turned up mold, human feces and other contaminants. The coalition advocates for the enforcement of Canada's existing tobacco laws, along with serious consequences for those who violate them. And Bradley says that's most likely to happen if average Canadians turn up the heat on the politicians and demand they do something to address the problem. "This is right under our noses and nobody's doing anything about it," says Bradley. "If we live in a country where we're bullied into complacency, we have a really big problem." Grosvenor St. Speak up! "MASONRY & FIREPLACE DESIGN SPECIALISTS" www.cobblestonembers.ca ACROSS FROM RONA LANSING Thursday, November 24th 406 SPEERS RD., OAKVILLE 905-337-2066 You can comment on any story in today's Oakville Beaver at oakvillebeaver.com