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If you still want to pack the darts, save your change. The price of cigarettes in Nova Scotia just went up.
Effective Wednesday, April 20, the cost of a single smoke is up by two cents, or about 50 cents extra a pack. The cost of a carton of 200 cigarettes will increase by four dollars.
â¨The change was the only tax increase announced in Nova Scotia’s just-released budget. This augmentation of the tobacco tax (along with a four percent tax hike on cigars) is projected to generate an extra $15.8 million in provincial revenues.
“This is partially offset by falling demand for cigarettes and fine cut tobacco, projected to decline by 2.2 percent and 6.3 percent respectively,” reads the budget.
Revenue to the Lotteries and Casino Corporation is also expected to increase by $16.4 million in 2016-17. That’s due to “increases resulting from changes in the video lottery business line and increased ticket lottery sales.”
â¨In other health news, the budget plans to commence the multi-year re-development and re-design for the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre. This year will see $3.7 million pumped into that project and the renovations going on at the Dartmouth General.
The downtown Halifax convention centre project, now expected to be complete by February 2017, will bring Nova Scotia $110.3 million in one-time revenue from municipal and federal contributions. That income will be thrown at the province’s debt, as a means of making it easier to borrow the money needed to build a new hospital later down the road. â¨
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This article appears in Apr 14-20, 2016.
And once again the government has aided and abetted illegal tobacco. Here’s a hint, tax it reasonably and the sale of illegal tobacco will go down dramatically and your tax revenue will go up.
What about alcohol? Because it’s more excepted? I am not a heavy smoker, I don’t smoke in my vehicle or my home by choice. I also rarely drink, but when I do I don’t drive. I can have a few cigarettes and not kill someone when I drive. how many lives are lost and ruined by alcohol? They should tax the HELL out of alcohol!
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Hahaha! I love it when you employ logic and reason in an argument and someone dislikes your comment. Knobs!
Naw, fuck that. Tax the hell out of that shit, the more bottom feeders dealing in illegal smokes the more likely the coppers will be in nailing their stupid asses into the gaol. I figure $50/pack is a good place to start. Bitches be chicken necking like its New Jack City.
To the alcohol comment. Someone can drink socially with little or no detriment to their health and maybe even some benefits. Yes it has a cost as some become alcoholics and you have drunk driving accidents. Tobacco on the other hand is a proven killer and harms non-smokers with second hand smoke. When you consider health care costs increasing tobacco taxes has been seen to curb youth smoking and delay the start of smoking.
You would have to be a fucking moron to smoke nowadays. Seriously, 13-18 dollars a pack for somethin that does absolutely nothing for you? Now that’s a “stupid tax” paid by no one but stupid people! Puff away, Chumps!
cigarettes are essentially an extra tax for the poor. Poor people are more likely to smoke, have fewer resources to quit, and (come on) more reason to want a smoke. When you increase the prices on cigarettes you’re putting another burden on the poor, and not just the poor, but those who are affected negatively by addiction.
Which brings me to another point: it’s the exploitation of addicts. The province isn’t in the business of helping these addicts, they jacked up the prices of cigarettes to generate a revenue. They should be putting all of the 15 million into quitting resources…
It’s hard to argue Cranky’s and Poprah’s comments…
Here’s a thought: frig government taxation and Big Tobacco, and switch to vaping! Your health and bank balance will thank you – as will all your friends and family members who think you currently smell like an ashtray. 😉
After several failed attempts at quitting the ‘evil weed’ that is tobacco, I dropped that wretched habit immediately after my first haul off a decent vaporizer. Yup, I was a pack+ a day smoker for 27 years and it was that easy! Just make sure you visit a vape shop with a good reputation, and knowledgeable staff who can get you paired up with the right set up for you. Don’t wait! Do some research and make the switch – you’ll be SO glad you did! As a DIY e-liquid mixer, my nicotine habit now costs me about a dollar a day, factoring in supplies and gear needed for a year – that’s a lot better than the $19.50 A DAY that I was paying for cigarettes!
Vaping: the delicious, pain-free way to quit smoking – no pesky nicotine withdrawals or mood swings, increased energy and sense of well-being, peace of mind knowing you’re not paying a King’s ransom to sign your own death warrant – gosh, need I say more? I could. I could say a lot more, but you get the idea. Smoker’s on the fence? You can do it!! Good luck. 🙂
Please provide the imperical data showing how.tbacco costs the taxpayer more than alcohol. Let’s factor I’m that costs of police being called due to a range of reasons fueled by alcohol…domestic violence bar fights public intoxication etc etc.
Let’s look at the cost to health care: the costs of er resources due to injury as a result of intoxication. The costa to treat medical conditions related to excessive drinking. Addictions services and counselling. Let’s look at the
lost tax revenue due alcoholics not being able to work or function in society and receive social assistance or govenement handouts.
Hmm a responsible smoker does not smoke around non smokers (second hand smoke eliminated)
A smoker can stI’ll work and function and be a productive member of society.
The hospitals Er depts not flooded with injuries Due to excessive smoking .
We still work and pay more than our share of taxes. You know why they don’t go after alcohol? They people making these ridiculous decisions all drink and don’t want to pay more for THEIR alcohol….period!!