FORCES - EVIDENCE - SMOKERS' COST TO SOCIETY, EH?

SMOKERS' COST TO SOCIETY, EH?

Far too often we hear the antismoking junta from the various ministries of health vomiting accusations on smokers about their cost to society, in the attempt to force them to feel guilty, and change their behaviour. The following chart intends to make Canadian smokers aware of the economic importance, and power

Fiscal Year --->>> 1988/89 1989/90 1990/91 1991/92 1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97

Newfoundland 41.1 50.6 54.1 55.3 62.0 67.5 67.2 65.5 64.0

Prince Edward Island 12.9 13.2 17.7 18.8 18.2 17.7 12.4 13.5 13.3

Nova Scotia 87.9 76.8 118.1 105.1 102.1 90.3 60.5 67.7 86.0

New Brunswick 62.0 76.4 74.5 59.8 50.7 43.7 35.0 38.0 38.0

Quebec 673.2 626.1 690.6 589.7 460.9 329.7 204.3 294.4 322.4

Ontario 750.5 770.6 874.7 1,028.0 969.6 773.5 324.3 330.3 347.4

Manitoba 98.8 117.0 116.2 129.9 128.2 123.3 116.2 112.5 109.7

Saskatchewan 99.3 102.8 101.2 104.9 115.7 111.4 116.0 114.6 117.3

Alberta 212.2 235.3 275.1 322.1 313.1 312.0 322.1 311.0 317.0

British Columbia 269.4 315.1 346.7 433.4 483.3 482.5 516.6 482.0 475.0

Yukon 2.8 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 4.9 5.5 5.7 5.8

Northwest Territories 5.3 7.9 9.3 13.5 12.8 12.6 16.7 18.0 16.9

Provinces Total 2,305.4 2,394.3 2,680.8 2,863.2 2,719.4 2,369.1 1,796.8 1,853.2 1,912.8

Federal Revenue 1,728.0 2,097.0 2,247.0 3,403.0 2,981.0 2,570.0 1,914.0 1,941.0 2,031.0

Total Tobacco Taxes 4,033.4 4,491.3 4,927.8 6,266.2 5,700.4 4,939.1 3,710.8 3,794.2 3,943.8

Source: Provincial Federal Public Account

PLEASE NOTE: Figures in millions of dollars

PLEASE NOTE: Add to the above total figures about 0.5 billion dollars in sales tax. Sales tax varies according to the province examined, thus 0.5 billion represents an average approximation.

COMMENTS

The contribution of Canadian smokers to their society is significantly higher than their American counterparts.
In fact, the total excise tax paid by US smokers in 1997 amounts to US$7,306,959,000, equivalent to CAN$9,864,394,650, at a rate of exchange of 1.37 Canadian dollars to 1 US dollar.
The total tax paid by Canadian smokers in 1997 is $3,943,800,000, + $500,000,000 in additional sales tax = $4,443,800,000.
We can safely assume that the smoking percentage of the population is the same in both countries.
Also, the commonly accepted smoking to non-smoking population ratio is 1 : 4, that is, 25% of the population smokes. Even if the smoking population percentage would be different from 25, the resulting ratio would not change.
Finally, we know that Canada has 10 times less population than the USA, about 26 million versus 260 million.
Let us calculate the number of smokers in Canada: 26,000,000 : 4 = 6,500.000
Let us calculate the number of smokers in the USA: 260,000,000 : 4 = 65,000,000
Let us calculate the per capita contribution of Canadian smokers: 4,443,800,000 : 6,500,000 = $683.66 each.
Let us calculate the per capita contribution of American smokers: 9,864,394,650 : 65,000,000 = $151.75 each.
If we divide the two figures, we can calculate how much more than their American counterparts Canadian smokers contribute to their society: 683.66 : 151.75 = 4.50 times.
-- Calculation performed in Canadian dollars. --
When our politicians dishonestly (or incompetently) parrot the already false US statement that smokers are a drain on society, they knowingly ignore this reality, and the discussion is kept in abstract and undefined terms -- or the health costs are inflated with absurd assumptions, as has happened in the case of British Columbia.
We think that Canadian smokers should be proud of their contribution to society.
And we think it is high time that Canadian smokers, as well as non-smokers, let their government know that their lies are going nowhere, and that the toilet tongue of the various Ministries of Health against smokers only serves to define what our political class really is: a dictatorial regime totally disrespectful of truth and integrity.

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