Cigar maker wants Alberta tobacco law reconsidered

A Quebec-based cigar distributor is lobbying the Alberta government not to proclaim new legislation that would ban flavoured tobacco products.

Alberta's Tobacco Reduction Amendment Act received royal assent last month, but the Progressive Conservative government has not seta date for when it will go into effect.

A company called Casa Cubana has written to Premier AlisonRedford and some cabinet ministers this month asking for the law tobe reconsidered.

The legislation gives the government full regulatory authority over all flavoured tobacco products including menthol cigarettes.

Health Minister Fred Horne says the province is still writing theregulations designed to protect children from tobacco use and willproclaim the legislation later this year.

Casa Cubana says flavoured tobacco is not a gateway product that leads young people to use other tobacco products.

It warns Alberta stands to lose $11 millionper year intax revenue from the sale of its cigars.