TOBACCO
NEWS FROM CANADA November 2003 Comments by Warren Klass Dateline - Vancouver B.C.
On Monday afternoon I was interviewed by CBC Montreal about the proposed tax increase on tobacco in Ontario and Quebec (there will be more about this below in Ontario stories). One of the questions involved the need for high taxes because of "the high cost of treating sick smokers." Like virtually every claim of the congenital liars this mantra is without merit. There is a vast amount of evidence on this topic in the Forces evidence archives from unimpeachable sources. Due to space limitations, I obviously can't re-produce it here. But in the interview with CBC Montreal, I did quote two Canadian studies on this question: "Smokers Burden On Society: Myth And Reality In Canada" Canadian Public Policy Vol.XVIII,number3,Sept.1992.This study claims that in 1986-BEFORE the huge tax increases on tobacco, Canadian smokers contributed $4.3 BILLION. Using figures supplied by Canadian Provinces, Canadian smokers contributed 4.5 times in tax revenues beyond what they received in medical benefits between 1989-1997. Again these PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT SUPPLIED FIGURES were BEFORE the huge tax increases. Source Harvard Law Professor Kip Viscusi, The Government Composition Of Insurance Costs of Smoking, University of Chicago Journal, Volume 42,Number 2,Oct.1999. This kookiness got going in - surprise-surprise- B.C.under the NDP. Twice the B.C. Supreme Court threw out this transparent shakedown of the Tobacco companies by the B.C. Government -after pissing away $15 million in legal fees, according to the Vancouver Sun. Now, according to Monday's Vancouver Sun, the B.C. Liberal Government is pissing away more millions appealing this for a third time to the B.C. Supreme Court. The Vancouver Sun quotes a B.C. Liberal government spokesman as claiming that tobacco taxes ONLY raise $500 million every year while the cost of treating cancer and heart disease (sending patients to Seattle because of the astronomical waiting lists) are $1 Billion. Heart disease has 300 causes. Lung Cancer in non-smokers has 40 causes. Once again tobacco is being used as a whipping boy/cash cow for etiological diseases of aging. Dateline - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Dateline - Toronto, Ontario
In a late breaking story from Monday's Toronto Red Star, Ontario Finance Minister Greg Sorbara -a chain smoker by the way-refused to give an exact figure, but speculation is its going to be a $15 a carton tax increase. The Grope and Flail reported Tuesday morning that cigarette taxes are rising immediately by $2.50 a carton, with the promise that Ontario smokers could look forward to another $10 a carton as soon as possible. One caller to the CBC Montreal radio program I was on, claims cigarettes are about $23 at Indian reservations in Quebec. It might be worth a drive on the 401 to check out. Dateline - Barrie, Ontario
Dateline- St Catharines, Ontario
But there is an equally crazy story that just came out of St. Catharines. Canadian Press is reporting on the case of petty criminal William Wilson. It seems that Mr. Wilson was about to be sentenced to a year in jail (given Canada's parole system about 2 months) for armed robbery. Mr. Wilson knocked over a convenience store. Mr. Wilson asked the judge to double his sentence to two years. Why? Because a two year sentence means a Federal prison where you can smoke. A one year sentence means a Provincial jail where you can't smoke. The Judge sentenced him to two years and a day so he could serve his time at Club Fed. Cheap accommodations and smoking privileges. Where else in Ontario can you get a deal like this? Dateline - Edmonton, Alberta
Kerry Diotte is back after a hiatus at the Edmonton Sun. In Kerry's column last week he quoted the results of a startling new poll commissioned by Edmontonians for Choice. What makes this poll even more remarkable is that 75% of respondents were non-smokers. Here are some results from the latest poll from Edmonton: A whopping 82% of Edmontonians agreed with the statement: "Do you believe that an adult should be free to choose the kind of restaurant, bar, or gaming facility they visit even if they could choose a place that permits smoking?"11% said no. And 7% had no opinion. Remember 75% of respondents are non-smokers. 73% of respondents" believe that business people should be able to choose the kind of restaurant bar or gaming facility they operate even if it means they could choose to cater to smokers." 75% agreed that there" should be restaurants, bars, or gaming facilities in Edmonton where adult smokers can visit, providing that minors are prohibited." 56% opposed smoking bans at Legions and private clubs. 50% rated the Mayor and city council's handling of the smoking issue "poor or very poor." Johan Berns, president of the Edmonton Hotel Association told Kerry: "Mayor Bill Smith insists the silent majority of Edmonton agrees with a tough smoking bylaw. But this shows Smith's claim is not correct. It is very obvious now the majority of the people agrees with free choice." There is even more good news coming out of Edmonton. In a late breaking story Saturday night, the Edmonton Journal is reporting that the Keep It Simple Club for recovering alcoholics has finally been granted a waver to allow smoking without having to apply for a liquor license. In the history of Forces Canada, there has never been a story that has captured people's imagination from around the world as the story of the Keep It Simple Club. Dateline - New Maryland, New Brunswick
What carried the day for smokers rights in New Maryland was the local Lions Club. The non-smoking President of the local Lion's Club told council that revenues from charity bingos in nearby Fredericton declined by 30% since the smoking ban was imposed. Smokers apparently make up a sizeable percentage of patrons of this vital charity. Dateline - Toronto, Ontario
I received an e-mail from a country rock group based in Toronto called The Intended. They wanted to alert Forces Canada readers that a song on their new album, Route 101 is called "The Smoke Police" (lyrics by Eric Layman, music by Matt Finlayson). The Smoke Police is a satirical look at what Forces Canada know all too well. You can download the song "The Smoke Police" as well as the lyrics for free at the band's website: www.theintendedband.com. If you enjoy their song you can purchase their album at the same site. Dateline - Windsor, Ontario
Dateline - Ottawa, Ontario
Miss Bodirsky goes on to state that according to Fair Air, New York has seen a 40% drop in business since their smoking ban was imposed and that 60 0f Ottawa's 210 bars have closed since the smoking ban was imposed. Dateline - Kitcherner-Waterloo, Ontario
The correspondent also sent me a story from the Kitchener-Waterloo Record that says some of the local anti-smoking nuts don't want to wait for Norman Bates (Psycho) McGuinty's province-wide ban and want to impose further restrictions now. I realize that just last week I reported that City Council just voted 5-2 against further smoking restrictions. I relied on a story sent to me by another Forces Canada reader from the Kitchener-Waterloo Record. So, I really don't know what's going on there, but I am sure I have not heard the last of what's going on in Kitchener-Waterloo. The correspondent sent me the story on PDF. I would once again like to thank the Forces Canada reader from Wisconsin who sent me an Adobe disk. With my computer failure, I lost your e-mail address to say thanks. My 13 year old son installed it and it works great. Dateline - Orilla, Ontario
"This is my business and they are not going to tell me what I can and can not do. We've got to draw the line somewhere. I thought this was a free country. I wish the government would keep their nose out of things that don't concern them." If you are in that area of Ontario, please patronize Peanuts Snack and Bar and give this incredibly brave, heroic women a hand. Also in the Orilla region, the Packet & Times is reporting that there is some confusion if Dolton Norman Bates proposed smoking ban applies to Indians-which are exempt from many Provincial decrees. A spokesperson for the Mnykaning First Nation which runs the Casino Rama in or near Orilla do not know if they are exempt. The Ontario government apparently doesn't know either. Dateline - Innisfil, Ontario
The biggest hit is expected at the Georgian Downs racetrack where slots constitute a large part of the business. In Ontario the biggest horses asses are not at Georgian Downs but in Queens Park and Parliament Hill. Dateline - Montreal, Quebec
CBC and the Grope and Flail have reported on what should be the final chapter of the endless Montreal Grand Prix soap opera. The tab for compensating the racing teams for the loss of tobacco sponsorship bucks is a cool $20 million U.S. Here's the deal:$6 million (U.S.) from the Feds,$6 million (U.S.) from the Quebec Liberal Provincial government and $5 million (U.S) from Labatts Brewery. CBC never specified where the other $3 million U.S. is supposed to come from. Francis Thompson, one of Gar Mahoodlum's PARASITES at the Canadian branch of the Taliban Vice and Virtue Committee (Non-Somokers Rights Association) told the Grope and Flail on Wednesday that this "sends a message to other countries." What message is that Francis? That other countries are stupid enough to spend $30 million (Cdn) on harebrained pork barreling schemes to appease a noisy minority of PARASITES who want to impose their agenda on the rest of us? Or a message to Moslem countries that cigarette sponsorship is bad, but Beer Company sponsorship is perfectly acceptable? No shortage of Moslem countries stage Grand Prix racing. According to Wednesday's Grope and Flail, all kinds of Arts groups that have lost their tobacco sponsorship are planning to use the Grand Prix precedent to ask the Feds for money. Its a good bet they won't get it-unless they are in Quebec. Lets put aside the $6 million (U.S) of taxpayer money pissed away pork barreling in Quebec for a moment or the $6 million (U.S) the Quebec government pissed away-how exactly is a brewery promoting beer so different from a cigarette company displaying their logo? We've all heard the propaganda a million times about how unhealthy cigarettes are supposed to be. These are highly exaggerated and misleading arguments. The average age of the "premature deaths of 45,000 Canadians" is about 81.If you're a non-smoker its about 82.The big killers of smokers and non-smokers alike are multi-casual. Heart disease has 300 causes. Lung cancer in non-smokers has 40 causes. Cigarettes have never been empirically linked as a cause of lung cancer. The link is purely statistical association.3-5%of smokers will ever get lung cancer. But of those 3-5%,the odds increase dramatically if you also work in an asbestos mine or dye factory, don't eat fruit and vegetables, and never exercise. Do you think I'm kidding? After 40 years of propaganda, this has always been the basis of the evidence. But the Health argument about beer and alcohol is pretty straight forward. Drink too much and you will have liver, kidney and pancreas failure. Smoke too much and what? Some wit once wrote that a heavy smoker will develop lung cancer between the ages of 150-200.Beer is intoxicating, cigarettes are not. You can smoke 10 cigarettes and drive or pilot a plane, you can't make the same statement about someone drinking 10 beers. Crime ,violence against women, not to mention obesity the latest hobby horse of the whole Birkenstocks/Starbucks/Kumbaya gang are associated with alcohol and not tobacco. Believe me, I'm not trying to sound like a representative of the Temperance League (Carrie Nation and Billy Sunday who took an axe to Demon Rum). Although I personally don't drink, gamble or take hard drugs, I could care less what consenting adults do to their bodies. But to ban tobacco company sponsorships while allowing Breweries carte blanche is breathtaking HYPOCRISY. Dateline - Toronto, Ontario
Dolton/Norman just raised cigarette taxes $15 a carton and is imposing a
Province-wide smoking ban. I TOLD YOU SO. I repeatedly warned Ontario voters
what would happen if they elected Norman Bates Premier. My only hope is that In a late breaking story in Wednesday's Grope and Flail, Norman Bates McGuinty is trying to sell his fellow Liberal Premier Jean Charest of Quebec on the idea of also raising cigarette taxes $15 a carton so Ontario smokers won't be able to buy cheaper cigarettes from Quebec. Dateline - Waterloo, Ontario
Dateline - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
The contents of the letter are too long to be reproduced here, but I mentioned the toxicology of second-hand smoke:" the dose makes the poison", the world's longest most comprehensive study ever undertaken on prolonged exposure to second-hand smoke-the U.S. Department's of Energy's laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee-that came up with nothing. I commented at length about the Star Phoenix's use of the Helena, Montana
study in justifying smoking bans. For those of you unaware, two quacks who
by co-incidence are the leaders in Montana's smoking ban movement claimed
heart attacks declined by 50 per cent-from 6 to 3-after smoking was banned
in Helena, and went back to 6 after the ban was ruled unconstitutional by
the Montana Supreme Court. I pointed out that the British Medical Journal
recently published a study of hundreds of thousands of non-smoking Californians, married to smokers, over 40 years-not 6 people over six
months-showed no increase in heart attacks or lung cancer. I brought up the
New England Journal of Medicine editorial by University of Chicago epidemiologist Dr.John Ballie who considered the whole second-hand smoke I mentioned that the experience throughout Canada was of economic devastation caused by smoking bans and not the sanguine picture of non-smokers rushing in to save the hospitality industry. I mentioned the experience Winnipeg is now going through with smoking bans .(I don't think Winnipeg is too popular right now in Saskatchwean. Before the big playoff game a few weeks ago between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Winnipeg kicker called Saskatchewan residents:" a bunch of banjo pickin', inbred hicks."The comment was big news in Saskatchwean. The Blow Bombers-surprise-surprise-as usual got clobbered.) The Star Phoenix's editorial bemoaned how difficult it is imposing a smoking ban, because the anti-smoking Mayor finished fourth, and two rabid anti-smoking City Councilors were defeated. The new Mayor elect has shown a distinct lack of enthusiasm for pushing for a smoking ban. I don't know whether a smoking ban can be stopped in Saskatoon, but the voters certainly sent a powerful message that the rest of us should heed. Smoking bans can be stopped or reversed at the ballot box-if you get off your ass and vote. Whining and bitching after they have been imposed isn't going to do any good. Dateline - Calgary, Alberta
In the 1930s in Germany, kids between the ages of 12-18 were forced to either join Hitler Youth or the League of German Girls. A large part of the indoctrination involved anti-smoking." You Have A Duty to Be Healthy!" was one famous anti-smoking slogan drummed in to these kids heads. All these kids were compelled to take "smoke-free" pledges for Hitler. More of these kids ended up smoking than any group of teenagers in human recorded history. The CTV local affiliate CFCN in Calgary is reporting a story that is literally right out of Hitler Youth. SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) is holding a plebiscite to ban smoking completely on campus. Dorms, the bar, the whole bit. Hitler was also big on the majority deciding minority rights via plebiscite as well. But this is very different. Nazi Germany was a fascist dictatorship where rights were taken away under spurious claims of health, all dissent was crushed, those pushing a smoke-free agenda were given unlimited financing. The role of the state was not to protect freedom but to push a lifestyle agenda, and to punish those heretics who didn't fall into line. I'm so glad modern Canada is so different. Dateline - London, Ontario
Champs Bar and Grill closed its doors at the end of September. The owner, Richard Frazer was quoted as saying the smoking ban "killed" his lunch time business. The London Free Press said that: the Rideout Tavern, Kopellis, and the Richmond Hotel are on the verge of closing because of the smoking ban. Wits End Pub&Grill and the New Yorker at York and Richmond are both thriving after installing expensive ,heated smoking patios. Far from "leveling the playing field", smoking bans have disproportionately impacted blue-collar areas, and establishments where the owners whether for reasons of zoning or financial constraints can't afford expensive outdoor heated patios. The big winners in the smoking ban business have been the fast-food restaurants (under 15 minute stays) and takeout. The big losers have been the Mom and Pop operators especially in Blue Collar areas. The anti-smoking LIARS blend the overall statistics to demonstrate "no overall loss of business." To those regular correspondents in London, I suffered a complete computer breakdown and no longer have your e-mail address on file. Send me a new e-mail at warren.klass@3web.net Dateline - Kingston, Ontario
Dateline - Waterloo, Ontario
This new proposal includes the Waterloo Legion, and private clubs. The veterans of Waterloo went to war against another group of anti-smoking liars and social-engineers who thought nothing about taking everyone's freedom away under bogus pretexts. What they fought for and risked their lives for against the Nazis is anybody's guess. Dateline - Winnipeg, Manitoba
Last Wednesday the Provincial N.D.P. decreed a new policy to ban smoking at Provincial jails. On Saturday, according to the Winnipeg Sun, National Post and Canadian Press, there was a four hour riot at the Winnipeg Remand Center. In the summer I reported that the P.E.I government refused to ban smoking in its jails, because of such a fear, but Manitoba's N.D.P. who are big on turning the whole Province into a jail, know better. Dateline - Regina, Saskatchewan
The former anti-smoking Mayor of nearby Saskatoon finished fourth in the recent election. Two city councilors pushing smoking bans were also defeated. The Leader-Post reported that smoking bans don't impact business. I guess I must be the most creative writer in human recorded history to have made up all the stories in the past few months about the economic impact of smoking bans. Dateline - Winnipeg, Manitoba
If it bleeds it leads. Once again Loserpeg is at the epicenter of Tobacco News from across Canada. The Winnipeg Free Press is the source for this bloodletting. It seems that in the first 6 weeks of Loserpeg's smoking ban, revenue from the two Provincial government owned and operated casinos were down $5 million. VLT revenue is down 21%.The Free Press reports that Brandon's VLT revenue has declined 20% since the smoking ban. VLT revenue is actually up by some $500,000 in bars in rural Manitoba unaffected-yet-by the smoking bans. This is not just affecting Provincial government owned Casinos. Mike Lourenco, the night manager of the Lincoln Hotel in Winnipeg's north end told the Free Press:" The impact is huge-we're way down, maybe 50 or 60 per cent. Our customers just aren't happy. The bar's a lot emptier. And the customers that do drop in don't stay that long." The Free Press quotes a member of the Manitoba Lottery Commission as saying if present trends continue gambling revenues could fall by $40 million. The Winnipeg Sun reported Saturday that in response to the huge loss of VLT revenue, the N.D.P. government is planning to allow V.L.T. gambling on Sundays. And you wonder why I call it "Loserpeg." If and when smoking is banned in Manitoba, I encourage the 90%of Manitobans who live within 50 miles of the U.S.border to go to North Dakota and Minnesota. Someone suggested I try to organize weekend smoke-ins in Pembina, North Dakota. Let me know if there is interest-assuming Manitoba goes smoke free. One of the more common themes of the orchestrated anti-smoking campaigns is the testimonials and assurances from anti-smoking nuts that when smoking is banned, they and legions of other anti-smokers will flock to restaurants and bars. Like everything else these characters say, this is a total lie. Anecdotally, I have reported many times to the readers of Forces Canada that Loserpeg is a virtual ghost town since the smoking ban was imposed by the Birkenstocks/Starbucks/Kumbaya gang that run things to accommodate the whims of Loserpeg's plutocracy. A letter published in Thursday's Free Press encapsulates the feelings of many in the hospitality industry who were sold a bill of goods. Some excerpts: "Non-smokers where are you? We're now smoke-free. As an owner/operator, I was initially concerned, but was excited to hear the numerous comments from non-smokers who would be coming out in droves to enjoy the local bar bars that they previously avoided due to second-hand smoke. We're patiently waiting, where are you? We have a hard-working and dedicated staff waiting to pamper you who can't pay their rent without your support. The industry as a whole is suffering due to this bylaw at this point. So get off your keister and get out and enjoy your local watering hole-wherever it maybe-and prove the naysayers to this bylaw to be wrong. Chris Miller As Loserpeg's biggest naysayer, let me just say this Chris: I think you were incredibly naive to take at face value the claims of a group of congenital liars. Some guy at a bar trying to get laid is a paragon of truth compared to the anti-smoking nuts. Waiting for the anti-smoking nuts to save Loserpeg's hospitality industry is like Waiting For Godot. In Samuel Beckett's play Godot never arrives. For those of you who wonder why I call Winnipeg "Loserpeg" will appreciate this. According to Friday's Winnipeg Free Press, the owner of the St. Boniface Hotel bought an old decrepit school bus and parked it in front to allow smokers to light up. Guess what? The city's smoking police consider it an illegal smoking room. The bar's owner, Franco Magnifico told the Free Press:" Where are all these non-smokers who said they never came out because of smoking?...They don't want successful business people in this city." Mr. Magnifico is attempting to sell the bar and leave town. How many takers do you think there will be for this investment? In the late 1930s, Hitler decreed that all Jewish owned hospitality venues be "smoke-free" as a health measure, of course. This action wiped out the Jewish hospitality industry in Germany. Finally in Loserpeg, Canada.com is reporting the story of the latest from Manitoba's biggest collection of Quacks since Ducks Unlimited. The Manitoba Medical Association wants the Provincial Government-the same Provincial government that is looking at a direct $40 million hole in its budget due to the loss in gambling revenues, God knows how much in spin-off tax revenues, and increased unemployment because of the smoking ban-to supply The Patch to Manitoba smokers. The Provincial N.D.P in an uncharacteristic burst of common sense rejected paying for this snake-oil. In a related story, the latest McLean's magazine rankings of Canadian Universities was released. The University of Manitoba, and its crown jewels, the Health Science Center and St. Boniface Hospital-the teaching hospitals of the U of M Medical school were once again ranked worst in Canada. Over the past 13 years the U.of M and its teaching Medical school was ranked worst in Canada 12 times. Once it reached 13th out of 15. Besides being perennially ranked worst in Canada, the Health Sciences Center is famous for hiring a Pediatric Cardiac surgeon who could not perform a complete canulation on his own. 12 Babies died. These are the geniuses who dictate policy in Manitoba. Dateline - Montreal, Quebec
Tourisme Montreal claims the race brings in $50 million directly to the Montreal economy from outside Quebec. The race is seen by some 300 million people in 144 countries.500 accredited media representatives from around the world come to Montreal to cover the race. In a poll conducted in September,63% of Quebecers are in favor of relaxing Canadian Tobacco sponsorship laws to allow the Montreal Grand Prix to proceed. Several months ago, Forces Canada reported that a poll showed that a majority of Canadians outside Quebec are in favor of relaxing the Tobacco sponsorship laws to allow the Grand Prix to proceed. If new Liberal Party Prime Minister Paul Martin allows the Grand Prix to leave Montreal, I hope Quebec voters will desert the Liberal Party en mass to vote for the Bloc Quebecois. Vive le Quebec. Vive le Quebec libre! Dateline - Winnipeg, Manitoba
Also in Loserpeg, the Winnipeg Free Press, usually a reliable source of anti-smoking hysteria and misinformation has written-by Free Press standards-an unusually fair editorial on the proposed Province - wide smoking ban. Ugh! Big Chief has spoken. Here is what the Winnipeg Free Press wrote in an editorial on Wednesday: "Smoking ban An all-party task force this week urged the Manitoba government to ban smoking in all enclosed public places and all indoor workplaces in the provincial labor jurisdiction. The proposed measure is wider than necessary for the protection of workplace health and safety. It reflects the success of the anti-tobacco lobbyists who want tobacco use stamped out as far as possible. The task force was led by New Democrat MLA Stan Struthers, who was appointed to the cabinet as minister of conservation as the task force finished its work. The committee held 13 public hearings at scattered locations in the province where the pro-tobacco views of restaurant and bar owners were overwhelmed by the anti-tobacco views of the health advocates. The task force narrowed the recommendations of the provincial advisory committee on workplace health and safety, which had urged a ban on smoking in all indoor and outdoor workplaces. The task force would permit smoking in outdoor workplaces. The task force proposal, however, would not focus on air quality in workplaces, which is what hurts workers. It would focus on the practice of smoking in indoor workplaces, which is presumed to hurt workers. As a result, this proposal would ban smoking even in places where the ventilation is so good that second-hand smoke would pose no risk to co-workers health. It would, however, tolerate an endless list of carcinogens in the air as long as they don't originate from the smoking of tobacco. This is an attempt to stop people from smoking, thinly disguised as a defense of workplace health and safety. The campaign to ban smoking in public buildings has already been fought and won in Winnipeg, which accounts for most of the provincial population and most of the public buildings. The habit of smoking in restaurants and recreation spots remains deeply ingrained in rural Manitoba. The government may not have an easy time persuading rural smokers to fall in with the rules that already apply in Winnipeg and Brandon. Compliance might come more easily if the measure were more clearly aimed at workplace health and safety and at freedom from second-hand smoke." Dateline - Sarnia, Ontario
The Sarnia correspondent begins by asking why if heart attacks decreased by 50% in Helena, Montana there has been no corresponding drop in Ottawa, which also had a smoking ban. The Helena study the Sarnia correspondent alluded to was junk concocted by two quacks who happen to be the leaders of Montana's anti-smoking industry. This GARBAGE was peddled to a gullible media that couldn't cover a fire. I.E.The New York Times. The Helena study took a six month period and found that heart attacks declined from (count 'em) 6 to 3,while the smoking ban was in place. And went back to 6 after the Montana Supreme Court ruled smoking bans unconstitutional. Why not 6 to 0 if second-hand smoke was responsible? The recent British Medical Journal study on this issue examined the records of hundreds of thousands of Californians over a 40 year period and found no link between prolonged exposure to second-hand smoke and heart disease and lung cancer. The world's foremost expert on heart disease and second-hand smoke, a University of Chicago epidemiologist in an editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine dismisses the link out of hand, if for no other reason than second-hand smoke is "too diffuse." There are 300 documented causes of heart disease. Second-hand smoke ain't one of them. Lung cancer? See above the British Medical Journal study on prolonged exposure to second-hand smoke. Lung cancer in non-smokers has 40 documented causes. Again second-hand smoke ain't one of them. The correspondent notes that childhood asthma has increased in an almost inverse proportion to smoking bans. For disclaimer purposes, I have been an asthmatic for about 45 years and a smoker for about 35.There are no allergens in cigarette smoke. The cry" I'm asthmatic and allergic to second-hand smoke" is the lie of hypochondriacs. The vast literature on the topic has never found any link between asthma and cigarette smoking (a recent Journal of the American Medical Association study found 25% of asthmatics are smokers. Be assured ALL 25% were asthmatics before they started smoking), whether primary or second-hand. The most interesting theory on the inverse relationship between smoking bans and the rise of childhood asthma comes from Dr. Fernando Martinez, the head of respiratory sciences at the University of Arizona. Dr. Martinez authored works on smoking and asthma that were later VACATED by a U.S. Federal Judge. Dr. Martinez has recanted his previous position that second-hand smoke is somehow responsible for asthma. Dr. Martinez now believes that smoking bans and hyper-sterilized environments are the cause of an epidemic of asthma, especially among the upper-classes, through what is known as" Lazy Lung." This is when the lungs are not being properly exercised. It seems that rich kids who grow up with smoking bans and hyper-sterilized environments are prone to asthma through" Lazy Lung." I don't know about the science but there is a certain karmic justice in this. Finally came the question of why health spending has not gone down from smoking bans as advertised. The simple trite answer is that disease is etiological. You are born carrying a certain disease. The best that can be said for the anti-smoking argument is that if you smoke you MAY get you were going to get anyway a few months, not years sooner. The basic flaw in preventive medicine is etiology. Historians who examined medical records of Nazi Germany (led by Robert Proctor's Nazi Medicine) were surprised that Hitler's preventative medicine campaign was a huge failure. The seduction of Preventive Medicine to publicly funded schemes like Nazi Germany ("You Have A Duty To Be Healthy") or Canada is that Preventative Medicine (nagging patients about smoking, drinking, eating, exercise, etc in the fantasy that this "prevents disease") is that it is cheaper than Curative Medicine. What historians found was that disease is etiological. The mantra of the anti-smoking nuts in Canada is that tobacco taxes are so high because" of the health costs of treating smokers." A study using Canadian Provincial figures showed Canadian smokers contributed 4.5 times in tax revenues as they obtained in medical benefits-BEFORE the huge tax increases were imposed. (Harvard economist Kip Viscusi, The Government Compensation Of Insurance Costs of Smoking, University of Chicago Journal, Vol 42,Number2,Oct.1999) In 1986,again before the huge tax increases were imposed on tobacco, Canadian smokers contributed $4.3 Billion beyond their own health care costs.(Smokers Burden on Society: Myth and Reality in Canada. Canadian Public Policy,Vol XVIII,no3,Sept.1992) Dateline - Northumberland, Ontario
To all of you who feel that smoking bans are etched in stone, or an inevitability or don't bother voting because "what difference does one vote make?" or a million other rationalizations to sit on your ass, not bother voting but whine and bitch when smoking bans are imposed ,I say- Behold Northlumberland, Ontario. Northumberland Today reported on the results of the municipal election. Rabid anti-smoking councilor Larry Hall lost by (count 'em) 4 votes. Northlumberland Today reported that the only issue was the proposed smoking ban, whose main proponent was Larry Hall. As Stalin once observed:" No more man. No more problem." We can now add the name Larry Hall to the long and growing list of Canadian politicians that have discovered that anti-smoking can be fatal to electoral health. Here is a partial list: former Toronto Mayor Barbara Hall who lost her job because she tried to impose a smoking ban was defeated a second time on Monday. Former Federal Health Minister David Dingwall lost his seat in Nova Scotia. Former Nova Scotia Provincial Health Minister Calamity Jane Purvis. Former Saskatoon City Councilors Patricia Roe and Lenore Swystun, who lost their seats last week. The former B.C. NDP government that tried to impose a Province-wide smoking ban was defeated 77 seats to 2. And the biggest occurred in the U.S. where American smokers did the whole world a huge favor and sent Al Gore packing. Dateline - Nipogon, Ontario
Dateline - Thunder Bay, Ontario
The anti-smoking nuts had a war chest of hundreds of thousands, a media that never bothered to even go through the motions that it was unbiased, ridiculous claims, devoid of evidence from the Ontario Medical Association, and the whole alphabet soup of anti-smoking Parasite Groups. All our side had was Thomas Laprade. Thomas wrote letters, Thomas organized the hospitality industry, Thomas put up flyers advertising Forces Canada - and against all odds - Thomas prevailed. If we had a nation of Thomas Laprades, we would not be the constant victims of a dirty war. I more than anyone know the money, power and media employed in this dirty war, and the seeming futility of fighting a foe that has unlimited money and resources to make our lives miserable, but as long as there are people in Canada like Thomas Laprade, an ordinary guy who did an extraordinary thing - I know we will ultimately prevail. Dateline - Kingston, Ontario
Dateline - Hastings, Ontario
If anyone in Ontario has information about if and how Ontario's Municipal election on Monday impacted smokers rights, pass it along to me at warren.klass@3web.net. The computer is now working. I can now even get PDF. I'd like to thank the Forces Canada reader from Wisconsin who sent me a disk to install Adobe. My 13 year old son installed it. Dateline - Chatham-Kent, Ontario
On to the Tobacco News from Canada. The Chatham Daily News reported two dozen angry bar owners protested the smoking ban at a recent Chatham-Kent council meeting, by staging a huge smoke-in at City Council. What makes the story even more ironic is that many quoted were not even smokers themselves. But all have suffered greatly from the smoking ban. Robert Brown, the owner of Mr. B's in Tilsbury told the Daily News: "For the last three months my business is down 41%." Mr.Brown is a non-smoker. Audrey Hackett, also a non-smoker, is the owner of the L.A. Roadhouse in Bothwell for the past 21 years. She was quoted as saying she was on the verge of losing her business. Besides the loss of business, hospitality owners objected that they are placed in a position to enforce the ban or they will be fined. Individual smokers have not been charged. One bar owner asked rhetorically if they were supposed to follow patrons into the bathroom to see if they are lighting up. Dateline - Midland, Ontario
Dateline - Thunder Bay, Ontario
Thomas also showed that the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal systematically withheld letters from those opposed to the smoking ban, while publishing any kind of garbage from those pushing a ban. I am shocked-shocked that the Thunder bay Chronicle would sink to that level. One letter or story published quotes some quack as saying 2,600 Ontarians die each year from second-hand smoke. Naturally there was not one iota of evidence produced to substantiate this tautological claim. The first rule of Journalism states:" If your Mother says she loves you-get it verified." Smoking issues are exempted from this of course. Print any claim no matter outrageous, no matter how devoid of evidence is the new mantra. Dateline - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Dateline - Winnipeg, Manitoba
Friday night I went to Headingly and various venues in Winnipeg. There is a Sals in Headingly where you can be treated like a normal person. Headingly is about 5 minutes West of Winnipeg on Highway #1. (Portage Avenue). Sals in Headingly has both a bar and restaurant. Coming back to Winnipeg at about 11:15 virtually every place on Portage Avenue was empty. My friend's girlfriend wanted to try the Windsor Hotel downtown. This is a place I would avoid like the plague with the smoking ban. The place was mostly empty on a Friday night. We went South next to Pony Corral in Grant Park. Let me put it this way...if you have a car go to Headingly while you still can. If and when Manitoba implements a complete smoking ban-go across the border to North Dakota. Cigarettes, alcohol and gasoline are a fraction of Manitoba prices. Backlash
The theme of the next several datelines concern the first signs of the long awaited backlash. This is like an economic observation where the reality becomes apparent within about six months. The pieces are in place for a major backlash. Where and when it will happen is anybody's guess. But I think we are beginning signs of a huge backlash developing. Whether it will manifest itself at the ballot box, at the empty hospitality industry, in the courts, or in terms of civil disobedience-the fatigue is becoming noticeable not only among US -but among THEM. If enough of you would bother to show up just once at the ballot office-Canada's war on smokers is over-and they know it. Nova Scotia smokers threw out former Federal Liberal Health Minister David Dingwall. Nova Scotia smokers threw out Nova Scotia smokers threw out Provincial Health Minister Calamity Jane Purvis. B.C. smokers threw out the N.D.P. Provincial government 77 seats to two. A few weeks ago Saskatoon smokers threw out the anti-smoking mayor and four city councillors. The former Mayor finished fourth. Toronto smokers threw out former mayor Barbara Hall after attempting to impose a smoking ban in Toronto. Its no longer a far fetched dream that we can't get rid of Paul Martin and the Liberals. No more Legions of Liberal Funded PARASITES who make $250,000 a year to make your life miserable when THEY are not attending all expense paid vacation to Miami to attend conferences on teen smoking, while WE are freezing our ass off smoking $10 a pack cigarettes, while the hospitality industry is decimated, unemployment skyrocketing-and THEY are running out of credible excuses to justify this-to themselves. An increasing number of people throughout this country are coming to the realization that the anti-smoking PARASITES deserve a one way Air Canada ticket, on a smoke-free flight with a complimentary copy of the Grope and Flail to the Baffin Islands to implement their smoke-free agenda. Inevitably this comes down when 30% of Ontario's population who smoke cigarettes and twice as many teenagers, who smoke pot to go to the ballot box in a Federal Election and say they HAVE HAD ENOUGH of the Liberal Party. I can assure Ontario that the rest of the country, a long time ago has HAD ENOUGH of the Liberal Party and its $480 million dollar a year PARASITE INDUSTRY- unaccountable to Parliament or the Auditor General. Dateline - Vernon B.C.
Dateline - Waterloo, Ontario
In Modern Canada 54% of teenagers between 15-19 smoke pot. ONLY 32% of kids between 12-14 smoke pot according to Statistics Canada(Nov.1, 2003, Forces Canada). In all probability the pot consumed by Canadian Youth contains 10-20 times the tar and carcinogens of cigarettes. Cigarette smoking is between 22-24% among Canadian Youth. In the early 90s before all this lunacy got going, youth smoking was 25%and falling. Pot smoking was a fraction of what it is now. A Meathead in Waterloo, Ontario also looks at the costs of this war on smokers to small businesses in the hospitality industry-and concludes incorrectly that second-hand smoke is an acceptable risk. He's groping around for a different way, because the punishment campaign is backfiring. Nothing is more potentially more damaging to the cause of the anti-smoking nuts than one true believer who stars to question orthodoxy and propose reforms. If Philip Morris had hired this guy to cause trouble for the anti-smoking nuts they couldn't find a better candidate than. Bob Verdun. If you think I'm kidding check-out Stop Encouraging Young Smokers. Dateline - Winnipeg, Manitoba
Friday night I went to the Sals at Pembina and Stafford.11:30 on a Friday night you could have shot a cannon ball and not hit anybody. Before the smoking ban at 11:30 on a Friday night it would be packed with waiting lists. Driving up Pembina to Osborne the restaurants, bars, clubs were all empty. The streets were empty. Monday and Tuesday morning I went for breakfast at the Plaza coffee shop. Business is way down. The coffee shop is two-thirds empty, despite a $2.95 breakfast special. The coffee shop and bar at the Sheraton (which charges about three times as much for bacon and eggs) was a virtual ghost town. The food court at Eaton Place was virtually deserted late Monday afternoon. Tuesday, I went to Red Lobster across from Polo Park. It had a handful of patrons. There was only one smoker in front of the restaurant. My non-smoking cousin from Minneapolis said to the Maitre D at Red Lobster;" You mean to tell me that you can legally buy cigarettes in Winnipeg, but you can't consume them on private property?" As I reported Nov.1,Branigan's at Polo Park, one of Loserpeg's largest restaurants closed because of the smoking ban. 50 people lost their jobs. There was a plea published in the Winnipeg Sun on Tuesday asking Winnipeg smokers to stop their" sulking" and to please start patronizing restaurants before their "beloved" eateries go out of business. There was also the plea for all those who pushed for the smoking ban to please patronize restaurants. Little darling I think its going to be a long, cold lonely winter. If we give in and start patronizing Winnipeg's hospitality industry there is no chance this will ever be reversed. Dateline - Ottawa, Ontario
In a datelined story out of Ottawa, whose press release looks like The Simpson's writers had a show where Homer gets a job putting out press releases for Statistics Canada, and run in only-surprise-surprise-the Grope and Flail-tailor made cigarette sales fell 10%in Canada last year. This means (A) either the anti-smoking campaign is working wonders or (B) record number of Canadians are rolling their own, buying tobacco on the Black-market, or even growing their own in Alberta? The anti-smoking nuts have been unusually quiet about this and the fact that 54% of Canadian teens smoke pot. Why are the antismoking nuts so quiet about these great triumphs. Dateline - Montreal, Quebec
In a completely unrelated story, since last reported by Forces Canada, the latest poll shows a 5% increase in support for Quebec separation. The latest poll puts support for Quebec sovereignty at 48%.Once again I'd like to congratulate the Liberal party of Canada for another huge accomplishment, like a .07 DECREASE in the Canadian economy while the U.S. Economy GREW by 7%,like having 54%of teens smoking pot and 10% less tailor made cigarettes in Canada. Four More Years. Four More Years. Vive le Quebec. Vive le Quebec libre. Dateline - Toronto, Ontario
A correspondent from Toronto responded to the request from a Forces Canada reader. I am temporarily omitting this person's name to preserve privacy and for fears of retribution and retaliation. This correspondent sent me a copy of what was sent, received and responded to. I am reproducing the contents here. "Rt. Hon Anne McLellan Dear Ms.McLellan, It is with great pleasure that I read your reduction in funding to the anti-smoking groups. As a lifelong Liberal Supporter it is with regrets that I rejected my ballot in the last provincial election as Mr. McGuinty had promised a province wide ban and a $10 dollar increase in taxes to one third or less of his constituents. I will vote for John Nunziata for Mayor of Toronto as he indicated review of the anti-smoking bylaws. Two or three decades of a story which has only one side is something no parent or teacher would countenance from an eight year old for one full minute. To have our government fund this foolishness with our health care system compromises in my view a serious waste of taxpayer dollars. The amount of money wasted on these parasites would fund the establishment of at least two major hospitals a year and that is only from federal coffers. I would like you to understand three things: I was for most of my life a member of the silent majority (long suffering). Anti-Smoking is many things at many levels, none of them good or useful. Anti-smoking is no longer for me politically neutral. Lastly, I would like you to know that you give me hope that Health Canada may not be compromised of a few badly convoluted statisticians fronted by marketing graduates and just maybe there are scientists still working there. Respectfully... Dateline - Thunder Bay, Ontario
Here is what Thomas had said in a letter published in the Thunder Bay Source last week: "SMOKING PLEBISCITE UNDEMOCRATIC The plebiscite is undemocratic, slanted, biased and wrong. If the plebiscite is passed it means it is against the law to use a legal product on private property. This is ludicrous and the bylaw is wrong. The majority (non-participants) of the hospitality sector can impose their morals on the participants (minority) of the hospitality sector. In a true democratic government the will of the majority must be obeyed but the rights of a minority must be protected. As our Prime Minister has said, if the minority rights are not protected, you are stepping on dangerous ground." Dateline - Ottawa, Ontario
Dateline - Montreal, Quebec
In an unrelated story a poll was released that shows support for Quebec separatism now stands at 43% the highest since the referendum a few years ago. Vive le Quebec. Vive le Quebec Libre. Dateline - Winnipeg, Manitoba
Dateline - Ottawa, Ontario
The other day Forbes Magazine ran an article about the safety of marijuana. Forbes claims that smoking 4 joints is the equivalent of smoking a pack of cigarettes. Forbes underestimates the power of Canadian pot. B.C. Bud contains 10-20 times the tar and carcinogens of cigarettes. This means that smoking 2 joints of B.C. Bud is the equivalent of smoking a pack of cigarettes. Forget the tar and carcinogens for a moment, this is not pot from the 60s. Damage to the lungs is the least of the problems in kids smoking this stuff. B.C. Bud is a serious head-f--- drug, especially for kids. Kiddies smoking B.C.Bud often leads to cigarettes. Nothing hits the spot after a couple of doobies of B.C.Bud than a Marlboro-so I've heard. The argument that cigarettes are bad but pot is good is pretty disingenuous. Kick-ass hydroponics pot has only been around for less than 20 years. Nobody really knows the long term affects of smoking this stuff on your brains or your lungs. But this being Canada, Jack Layton of the NDP is trying to capitalize on the fact that millions of stoners (and loyal Forces Canada readers) want pot legalized and normalized. Believe me if legalized pot was the only issue facing Canada ,I'd be the first one to vote and champion the N.D.P. In the event any of you kids trust anyone over 30 (I don't trust anyone under 30), put down the joint for a moment and shut off Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and think what an N.D.P. government means to Canada. Anyone from B.C., Saskatchwean, or Manitoba can assure you what a picnic it is to live under the rule of this whole Kumbaya gang. Dateline - Montreal, Quebec
Dateline - Halifax, Nova Scotia
Dateline - Winnipeg, Manitoba
Dateline - Spruce Grove, Alberta
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November 26 -
Before I get to the tobacco news from across Canada, I would just like to
inform all the loyal readers of Forces Canada that due to the Thanksgiving
holidays in the U.S., this will be the last posting for Forces for about a
week. The person who posts for Forces Canada will be taking a long overdue,
well-earned vacation.