1/13/2025

Welcome to 2025: A year of uncertainty and change

Increased attention on the border an opportunity to reinforce the linkages between contraband tobacco and organized crime.

Anne Kothawala

Border tensions are just one of the many issues to confront Canada and its convenience stores. Photo: Shutterstock

The threat of punitive 25% tariffs by our leading trading partners on Canadian goods. Incoming US President Donald Trump hinting that Canada could become the 51^st state. A revolt by politicians in the Liberal Party causing Prime Minister Trudeau to resign and pause Parliament until a new leader is chosen in March.

Welcome to 2025 folks. We’re only three weeks in.

To say that the upcoming year will be one of uncertainty and change is an understatement.

Donald Trump doesn’t officially become President of the US until January 20^th, but that hasn’t stopped him from ramping up the rhetoric and rolling out an apparent expansionist agenda that targets Canada.

Whether the President-Elect is serious about making Canada the 51^st state is up for debate, but the threat has Canadian politicians scrambling to appease the Trump administration on several fronts, including increased border security.

But how does this impact Canada’s convenience industry over the next few months?

Despite the pause federally, the next couple of months remain a crucial time to influence the (anticipated) next federal government on our core government relations files.

The increased attention on the border provides an opportunity to reinforce the linkages between the illicit contraband tobacco market and organized crime, specifically how the lucrative profits are financing other cross-border illicit markets including drugs and guns. And CICC is making this case not only with the federal government but also with the provinces. We have already seen Premier Ford take a leadership role on the border, and we expect imminent announcements that will ensure that contraband tobacco is part of the government’s stepped up enforcement efforts.

But it’s not just tobacco anymore, contraband has expanded to vape and pouches as well. And we need to connect the dots that restrictions on legal nicotine products, such as those being considered by Health Canada on vape products, undermine the Government of Canada and law enforcement agencies’ work to both disrupt organized criminal networks and secure our border.

In the last quarter of 2024, CICC worked closely with Member of Parliament and Conservative Shadow Minister for Small Business, Brad Vis on a parliamentary petition aimed at restoring the the sale of Nicotine Replacement Therapies, like nicotine pouches in c-stores.

READ: CICC commends Ontario government action on contraband tobacco

This petition is still active, and e-signatures can still be collected

By signing this petition and demonstrating continued concern over this issue, we will continue to build goodwill with the Conservative Party and key MPs ahead of the next election.

CICC met with Conservative Health Critic, Dr. Steven Ellis concerning the ban of pouches from c-stores, which prompted his statement to the media opposing the federal government’s ban.

“Conservatives believe adult Canadians should have freedom of choice when it comes to what legal products they use, including nicotine pouches,” he told the National Post in September. He also said that it is important that those looking to quit smoking “should continue to have access to less harmful alternatives that have worked for them.”

Ellis also recognized the track record of convenience stores selling age-restricted products.

“It makes little sense that these businesses face these new restrictions when they continue to sell cigarettes and other nicotine products,” he said.

The petition can be found here. Please share this far and wide and consider posting on your social channels to ensure it has robust circulation.

This a key time to demonstrate to the Conservative Party why action on these issues is needed, both for our stores and adult consumers.

Parliament (and the Senate) will resume on March 24,and it’s expected that the opposition parties will force a confidence vote at their earliest convenience, thrusting Canada into a federal election campaign that is expected to last until mid May.

Despite a break in the day-to-day activities of Parliament, CICC will remain steadfast in its advocacy efforts on critical issues and ensure that all federal political parties are informed of the issues that impact our industry.