Ottawa comforts Nunavut internet users, punishes smokers – Nunatsiaq News

February 12, 2014

Conservatives promise 5 Mbps broadband, more money for Nutrition North

Federal finance minister Jim Flaherty’s 2014-15 budget, unveiled Feb. 11, will bring comfort to northern internet users and grief to smokers, while promising more money for Nutrition North Canada.

Cigarette smokers, who comprise roughly 60 per cent of Nunavut’s population, will pay about 50 cents more for a pack of 25 and $4 more for a carton of 200.

That’s the first increase in the federal excise tax on tobacco since 2002. Through it, Ottawa expects to rake in an additional $685 million in 2014-15 and $660 million more the following year.

Read more: http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674ottawa_comforts_nunavut_internet_users_punishes_smokers/