Cornwall — A new campaign by convenience store representatives rolled into the city today in the hopes of unravelling the $2-billion contraband cigarette problem.
The Canadian Convenience Stores Association is challenging local MP Guy Lauzon and MPP Jim Brownell to get behind the association's goal to reduce contraband smoke use to 10%.
"Despite numerous calls to action by convenience store owners over the past three years, the government results so far in fighting contraband are not significant," said Michel Gadbois, association vice-president.
If the rate of contraband use drops to 10% or less than it will no longer be viably lucrative for criminal organizations to distribute the cigarettes.
Gadbois and other association personnel are touring with the campaign motor home that features blown-up photograph of teenaged boy facing a hand holding a bag of contraband smokes.
They had parked at the Short Line Convenience store owned by Elizabeth and Chris Nurse.
"We've lost a lot of stores (since the explosion of smuggled cigarettes)," Elizabeth Nurse said.
"You just have to look how many there were in a phone book from 10-15 years ago.
The Nurses estimate they've lost about 50% of their overall sales.
"When they're not coming in for cigarettes they're not buying a soft drink or newspaper," Elizabeth said.
Local business people are not losing money but at least one in three teenagers smoke contraband, due to its availability and low price, Gadbois said.