MAY 5, 1997
Canada bans tobacco
CANADA has passed its Tobacco Act and that means that advertising of tobacco products and sports sponsorship will have to stop.
The tobacco companies have, however, won a concession from the government regarding sports sponsorships with the law not coming into effect until October 1998, which will give sporting organizations the opportunity to find replacement sponsors.
The long-term effect of the law will be to deprive young Canadian drivers of the chance to climb up the ladder in international motor racing. In recent years Players Ltd. has supported a string of young hopefuls notably Jacques Villeneuve, Greg Moore, Patrick Carpentier, David Empringham and Claude Bourbonnais.
A similar law in France has caused a drastic reduction in the number of French racers enjoying international success simply because there has been no money available to help them through their careers.