It is obscene that tobacco companies are granted licenses to do the same to their customers. Sale of tobacco products by private companies is just as wrong and socially destructive as drug trafficking. The government should rescind the business licenses of all private tobacco companies. The goal is not to criminalize the act of smoking. There is no consensus in Canada for this, nor is there ever likely to be.
Individuals have the right to smoke and to have reasonable access to tobacco products.
In taking away tobacco companies' business licenses, the government should assume responsibility for the production, distribution, and retail of tobacco products in Canada and ensure their availability. Consequences Tobacco companies, their distributors, and vendors would be out of business. Cigarettes and tobacco products would be available for sale at government tobacco stores much the same way liquor is distributed at government liquor stores in many provinces. The government might still license private vendors for tobacco retail as well. Governments would likely purchase tobacco from Canadian farmers or other sources and would produce cigarettes and other tobacco products for sale.