Cigarette packs go up $1 in Nunavut

The price of cigarettes in Nunavut went up $1 a pack Friday morning, after the territorys MLAs approved a tobacco tax increase Thursday night.

The increase was part of thenew territorial budget released Wednesday.

Barrie Gunn said shelling out an extra dollar per pack of cigarettes won't help him cut back.

"Prices [are] already bad enough, but I'll keep smoking."

Mona Godin, manager of DJ Specialties in Iqaluit, said a few customers came in to buy cartons Thursday before the price went up, but most weren't bothered by the increase.

"People are going to smoke regardless," she said. "You know, we all decidedI'm a smoker as wellthat when it hit $3 a pack, I'd quit. But I'm here now at $15 a pack. I think it will just create less money in the pocket for groceries.

Nunavut tobacco taxes haven't gone up since 2006. The increase affects the price of packaged cigarettes and loose tobacco, but not cigars.