(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm not against the Minister's amendment to the Tobacco Tax Act. I'm not against the proposed increases to tobacco taxes. I will be asking questions after I make some comments. I have some constituents who are in the Quebec area, namely in Sanikiluaq. They are already seeing some changes regarding smuggling of tobacco products from southern Quebec. Companies who are selling tobacco will have to keep a careful eye on how their tobacco is being distributed to northern communities. I feel that organized crime will increase in the Northwest Territories if this bill is to proceed.

I'm not stating that I'm against this bill, however my constituents in Sanikiluaq have very grave concerns concerning the tobacco tax increases because of the increases in smuggling and organized crime that may result in this community. For instance, if they were to go to Montreal or one of the Quebec communities and buy a carton of cigarettes, they would save about $7.85 instead of buying the tobacco product in their community. I suspect that crime will increase with regard to smuggling and I have a great fear about that as well as my constituency.

I fully support the health aspect of the Tobacco Tax Act. However, if there were going to be customers going to Montreal or Ottawa from my constituency of Sanikiluaq, how will they be treated if they were caught with smuggling with a carton of cigarettes or more? How will they be treated by the law enforcement? I think there is going to be an increase of crime when this bill that is being proposed goes into effect. This is the only problem I have with it. Otherwise, I don't have any problems with the bill as it is.

As we all know, we were well aware that the Tobacco Tax Act would be amended to increase cigarettes and tobacco products. We have consulted with our constituencies regarding the increases. They are well aware of the increases that will be upcoming. Some people have really supported the Tobacco Tax Act, but there are some people who have some very good concerns regarding the increases on tobacco, particularly in the Northwest Territories. We all know that the Minister has been briefing us on this bill. We are aware of what is in the bill and what it is meant to do.

If there are going to be some law enforcers in the communities, how will they go through all the luggage and suitcases that go through the airports and terminals? For example, if a person is caught smuggling cartons of cigarettes, they will be charged for smuggling the product. I am sure the people of my constituency of Sanikiluaq will try and get the cheaper cigarettes from the surrounding provinces like Ontario and Quebec. I think this will have to be looked into by the Department of Health or Justice. I am sure many people will have to be searched to see if there are any cigarettes being smuggled into the communities. I wanted to ask the Minister how they will enforce the law when some customers from the Northwest Territories come in from provinces like Quebec or Ontario. How will they go about searching or seizing the luggage and how will they go about charging a person if they have been caught with smuggling? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.