TOBACCO LEVY RECEIVES SUPPORT
By Adnews Staff
Tobacco companies received a blow this week with the release of a new study that shows Canadians support a tobacco company-funded educational program to reduce youth smoking. The survey showed that 76% of Canadians support the program, while 17% were opposed and 7% were undecided. The poll found strong support across all age, income, occupation and education groups. There was also strong support in all the regions in Canada, with the Atlantic provinces showing the strongest support at 80%, followed by Western Canada at 79%, Quebec at 76% and Ontario at 74%. Currently, there is a bill before the House of Commons that would establish a special levy to be paid by tobacco companies. This levy would raise $120 million a year to fund educational and other programs aimed at reducing smoking among young people. The study was conducted by the Environics Research Group of Toronto. The survey consisted of 2002 in-home surveys of Canadians 18 years of age and over between Oct. 1 and 25.