OCSA Invited to Ontario Government’s 2024 Budget Announcement
On Monday March 25, OCSA’s President, Kenny Shim, and Executive Director, Donna Montminy, were invited by the Honourable Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance, to attend the Ontario Government’s 2024 budget announcement. Of importance to the Ontario Convenience Stores Association, is the Modernization of the Tobacco Tax Act. In particular, the increasing fines to those who […]
Contraband Tobacco needs a Refocus by the Ontario Government
Ernst & Young (E&Y) recently released their report where they examined the downward trend in legal tobacco sales in three provinces since 2019 (BC, Newfoundland, and Ontario) compared with the rising growth in the underground contraband tobacco market. Let’s not be fooled as contraband is at record numbers in basically all provinces in Canada. “Illegal […]
Contraband Tobacco Remains a Big Issue
With the recent increases in cigarette prices as well as tax issues bestowed upon legal tobacco, we still see the issue of untaxed cigarettes sitting at 30-35 % in Ontario. Tobacco is a declining category but the best way we can shore up the instore business to constantly reminding our local MPP’s of the issues […]
OCSA Letter Warning of Contraband Impact
The re-opening of smoke shops on Ontario reserves has brought an issue facing our channel back to the forefront; the sale of cheap, untaxed cigarettes damaging the business of regulated convenience store retailers. A tobacco survey conducted by the OCSA this year has aided us in our efforts to help the government better understand the […]
Ministry Consulting OCSA on Unregulated Tobacco
The Ministry of Finance is consulting on addressing unregulated tobacco in Ontario. The OCSA will be participating in round tables and providing recommendations to the Ministry of Finance on ways to address illegal tobacco issues in Ontario. The OCSA estimates that over one third of cigarette sales are unregulated and do not comply with federal […]
Tobacco Tax Freeze Heading Into 2019
The OCSA has been actively working with the provincial government to address the issue of contraband tobacco. As we have discussed in the past, one of the key reasons contraband flourishes is due to high tobacco taxes. For this reason, the OCSA greatly appreciates the Ontario government recognizing this issue and halting the proposed $4.00 […]
Retailer Action Needed on Bill S-5
On May 23rd, 2018, Bill S-5, An Act to Amend the Tobacco Act and the Non-Smokers Health Act became law, laying the groundwork for plain packaging and other standardization measures. Convenience stores operate a legal, respected and trusted business that serves and employs people from the community. It’s time to speak up and be heard: […]
OCSA, Crime Stoppers Unite to Curb Contraband
The OCSA has teamed up with Crime Stoppers to work on issues members encounter with regard to contraband in Ontario. By spreading awareness, the two parties hope to limit the opportunities organized crime has to profit off of the illegal tobacco market. As illegal activity grows, the OCSA will meet with the newly elected government […]
Contraband Tobacco Levels in Ontario Reaching Alarming Rates According to New Study
Government Failure to Tackle Contraband Tobacco Highlights Double Standard Around Proposed Regulations for Marijuana The latest contraband study, conducted on behalf of the Ontario Convenience Stores Association (OCSA), reveals that the volume of contraband tobacco being consumed by Ontario residents continues to rise at an alarming rate in every region across the province. The […]
Crime Stoppers: Sale of Illegal Cigarettes is Funding Bikers, Street Gangs and Terrorists
Ontario Association of Crime Stoppers Launches Hard-Hitting Public Awareness Campaign TORONTO – Monday, September 18, 2017 – Today, Crime Stoppers programs across Ontario officially launched a province-wide public awareness campaign to highlight the threats to our communities posed by the sale of illegal cigarettes. The campaign features a series of 30-second radio and print advertisements […]