The government plans stiffer penalties including mandatory jail sentences for repeat offenders to combat contraband tobacco.

Justice Minister Peter MacKay and Health Minister Rona Ambrose in a statement said they backed a new Criminal Code offence levying a maximum six-month incarceration for a first offence on a summary conviction and five years if prosecuted on indictment. The proposal targets people involved in the sale, possession, distribution or delivery of contraband tobacco.
Repeat offenders face mandatory imprisonment of 90 days imprisonment for a second offence where “high volume” is involved, 180 days for a third conviction and two years minus one day for subsequent convictions. High volume is defined as 10,000 cigarettes or 10 kilograms of other tobacco products.