Why Government Is Addicted to Cigarettes

For years Canadian media has been saying that Canada is a world leader in regulating big tobacco and is a global success story when it comes to weaning the public off of cigarettes.

Last week there were headlines about the decline of tobacco use in Canada — according to the World Health Organization stats that say we are beating just about every country when it comes to convincing people to kick the habit.

Given the tone and the content of news coverage on Canada's anti-smoking effort, and you might have the idea that:

• Big Tobacco is in serious business trouble... unless vaping saves them
• The Canadian government doesn't want anyone to smoke
• Public Health Canada is getting ready to ban cigarettes entirely, first to young Canadians, and eventually to everyone.

According to Max Krangle, a lawyer who worked for Big Tobacco companies like RJ Reynolds for 12 years, you would be wrong. He says the cigarette business is more profitable than ever and that government regulations are the reason why.

Correction: In a previous edition of this episode, the guest Max Krangle said that, to account for tobacco revenue loss, income tax would have to increase by 10%. Host Jesse Brown, misinterpreted this and asked if that would mean that tobacco revenue accounts for 10% of total tax revenue. Krangle mistakenly agreed. That exchange has been removed.

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Further reading:

• Contentious Counsel by Max A. Krangle — Counsel Strategy

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