By The Canadian Press

Coalition wants higher tobacco tax to fund programs

Jan 19, 2017 | 4:36 AM

EDMONTON – A coalition of health groups wants the Alberta government to raise the tobacco tax in its next budget and spend some of the money on anti-smoking programs aimed at young people.

Campaign for a Smoke-Free Alberta says an increase of one dollar and fifty cents on a pack of cigarettes would raise about 200 million dollars.

Angeline Webb of the Canadian Cancer Society says about 20 million dollars of that should be spent to fund anti-smoking media campaigns and to hire more tobacco inspectors.

Webb says the government should also enact and enforce tobacco-related laws that have been passed but are languishing on the books.

Alberta Health Minister Sarah Hoffman says the government is aware of the tax increase request but no decisions have been made.

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She says the government needs to improve how it enforces the legislation, but made no commitments.

Other coalition members include the Heart and Stroke Foundation, The Lung Association, Alberta Public Health Association and Action on Smoking and Health.

(The Canadian Press)