I hate the Media - they should register as lobbyists

I want to know how by suggesting a technical amendment to a piece of legislation in order to preserve its original intent, a lawyer evolves into a "shill for an evil industry."

I generally don't like to ban things, but I don't think there is a single rationale person who doesn't support the original intent of bill c-32 - as its alternate title calls it - the Cracking Down on Tobacco Marketing Aimed at Youth Act.

Frankly, I don't see the appeal of candy flavoured anything but candy. But, admittedly, I am not the target of the legislation.

That said, in drafting the bill, Health Canada has gone over the edge. They purport to ban all additives to Tobacco for flavouring purpose - even if the intent is not "confectionery." The effect is to ban all cigarettes made of burly tobacco. That is code for - all American blended cigarettes.

Now, I am not an expert on cigarettes, but I know what is targeted towards kids from a flavour perspective. It is NOT Camels or Winston's. I have smoked 25,000 cigarettes in my life (I actually did some back of the envelope math) and I can tell you that they are fucking gross. There is no "child" in the universe who would want to smoke them - they taste like ass. The ads they have tell me they are targeted at cowboys.

They say, cough, that anything that makes a cigarette less harsh, will make it less attractive to kids - ergo, it is aligned with the intent of the bill.

That is kind of like saying "We know that kids love candy, and that is why we should make glue smell less like aylmers glue, and more like Uhu- so the kids are less likely to sniff it."

And all the while, we are allowed to add lime to Bud Light. That doesn't make it more attractive to kids, right? And the exception the Act provides for menthol, that is OK. I mean, that only tastes like a candy cane.

Retarded. Oh, and by the way did you know that the bill will violate NAFTA and the WTO. Who cares?

Of course, suggesting this means you are evil and are trying to make kids smoke. What bull shit.

Worse still is the "balanced" coverage we get from Sarah Schmidt (whose story I refuse to link to because it is so bad) that calls anyone who suggests amending the act to make it smarter and less "trade war" sensitive. How the hell can her fluff piece NOT be considered advocacy? It is shocking to me.

PS - the cigarettes this bill bans will still be available to kids through the illegal market. It is half of Ontario's sales now, and this bill just gives them a brand new monopoly on a product that they can sell. And they don't check for ID.

PPS - Ontario is now suing for $50 Billion to recover the costs of health care. Why no $750 Billion? I mean seriously, if you are going to make up a ridiculous number, why not make it uber-ridiculous.

And now, Canada's Senate has the chance to save the day - and 100% of the Quebec Conservative Caucus agrees the bill should be changed. Maxime Bernier, afterall, causes cancer.

Just once, it would be refreshing to see a Minsiter admit they were wrong instead of painting themselves into a corner and then fighting their way out while walking all over the paint anyway.

That paint, however, can't be too bright, or might attract stupid children who don't know any better. God, they better not drink it.