The CAQ’s anti-pot stance is sure to hurt consumers and citizens in Quebec. The new Quebec premier Francois Legault of the Coalition Avenir Quebec says he wants to put more money in the pockets of Quebecers. And now that the CAQ has the mandate of a majority government, his words will soon turn into actions. […]
Eyesore Marijuana Packaging Isn’t Healthy For Canadians Or Competition
Recently proposed restrictions on branding and logos, as well as exhaustive warning requirements, won’t benefit legal cannabis users. By Yaël Ossowski Deputy director at Consumer Choice Center. Last Monday, Health Canada unveiled its proposed guidance on how cannabis should be regulated, marketed and sold once it is fully legalized in later this year, likely in July or […]
Canada Can Lead The Way On Pot, Vapes and Plain Packs
The world is paying attention to Canada right now. Two very important pieces of legislation on consumer products are being debated, which could provide many lessons for the world. House Bill C-45, the world’s most extensive cannabis legalization and the first for a country in the G7, successfully passed on November 28 and goes to […]
Trudeau Should See NAFTA Renegotiation As His Biggest Priority
By Yaël Ossowski | Huffington Post Trump needs to be shown that protectionism south of the border hurts American and Canadian consumers as much as it helps hand-picked American producers. At this point in the Donald Trump presidency, it’s become clear that protectionism is become the ruling mantra. Whether it’s tariffs slapped on Bombardier jets […]
Consumers Lose No Matter Who Wins The U.S.-Canada Jet Subsidy War
Putting into action the protectionist rhetoric of U.S. President Donald Trump, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced on Tuesday a tariff of more than 200 per cent on Bombardier’s C-Series regional jet. The initial complaint was lodged by Chicago-based aerospace company and defence contractor Boeing, the largest U.S. exporter of goods and the top recipient […]
Bitcoin Has Become About The Payday, Not Its Potential
Cryptocurrencies aren’t a store-of-value nor safe haven for anyone’s assets. They’re experiments. In the beginning, Bitcoin was something of a revolution to me. The digital currency represented everything from my rebellious youth. It was a decentralized, denationalized, and digital currency operating outside the traditional banking and governmental system. It used tools of cryptography and connected […]
WHO Elections: Will The Promise Of A Healthier Future Be Forgotten?
Many countries, such as Canada, are focused on implementing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and universalizing coverage. Others, pushed by the WHO, are leading anti-tobacco efforts. But many are seeking a reduced role for determining health policy at the very top level. For the first time in recorded memory, the race to lead the […]
Why Fewer Canadians Are Using Tobacco
Despite the millions in proposed new spending for getting Canadians unhooked off tobacco, fewer Canadians are lighting up. Just 17.7 percent of Canadians smoked daily or occasionally in 2015, according to the Canadian Community Health Survey released last week. That’s down from 18.1 per cent the previous year. Those results were revealed at the same […]
Vaping May Win The Fight Against Underage Smoking
In countries such as Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, measures aimed at reducing smoking and tobacco use are on the primary docket. Chief in each government’s arsenal is a requirement that cigarette and tobacco products be subject to plain packaging, with all cigarette logos and designs excluded and graphic warnings taking up […]