M141SIr-C DC LA
w1misTcm or NATIONAL HEA90" AND WtLr^nC SAPOTf. PIATIONALE C? Du VotH-CYPt SOCIAL
NOV 2 7 1973
Mr. Paul P.-,:f,
Chairman,
Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers council,
1808 Sherbrooke Street Vlost,
Montreal 109, Oucbec.
Dei2r Mr. Parf:
We have considered the smoking and health research proposals
presented to Dr. Morrison on behalf of you and your colleagues, by
Mr. Gibbs and Dr. Felton on August 7, 19 and have had to conclude
that it will not be oossible at this time -r us to acu-ept your
invitation to participate in a joint resea. program.
The Department's ir@dependence in providing surveillance of
industry products and actions and in assessing their r-16fects on health
would, in our view, be or appear to be compromised if we were to
engage in such a pru--iraun. Mar,@-@,ver,' because of the nature of
cigarette smoking ana the ovcrwhclming evidence that it is a serious
hazard to health, . e Do-vartment. must maintain and be seen to maintain
its position that not smoking is the desirable goal. it would be L
inappropriate for us to participate in an activity that might lead
Canadians to doubt that cigarette smoking is still clearly seen as a
vmjor health probler or that iri7l@t falsely reassure then that a safe
cigarette is on the horizon, if not already here. and that they may
smoke confidently without fear of possible har-u.
I hope this decision will not discourage the industry fron.
expanding its research effcrts or interfere.with the continuation of
periodic exchanges of infom-ation of the kind which have been carrIed
on between the tobacco manufacturers and grawers and the Depart--mnts
of Agridulture and Health and Wfrt-f-axe. nr. Morrison and officers of
the Ran-VAdical Use of Druqs Directoral'o..Are of course available for
technical discussions at any ti-c.
V e 2
ON
BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 20 April 1999

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1. wish to commer,1 the re.-:- f@lf responsib-ility you arid youx
collcaguc= havc dirplaycld in that a health problem exists
and in proposing steps that might prntcrt smokerz. While we would,
as Al believe you --;,tjcct, disagree w! ch of the statements in your
presentation, wn i. 'roe with your main c-nc,@rn thit continuing attention
be given not or'Ly to the modification r-,-- cigarettcs but also whether
and how modifir.-d cigarettvs are use L7 ---okers. As you know, we
have been supporting studios of the int.-face between smoker and
time. I n
cigarette for son unde.- s tz:i@! the industry has also been
carrying out stuOies in th,;s arca.
We believe smokers shorld be r---2e.more aware that there are
several things they into/ do to reduce the amount of smoke constituents
4--hat 1-1-ct, 4nlale am,-' L.',cAL cigazettes t---hose smo),c is lower in tar,
"A
nicotine and gases arn only on(% ?I-Irt, of this system. Vle must assume
that informed smokers are bottcy ablr@ to orotect themselves even though
many have Difficulty c@,ntrolli-ng th-, z -r exposures
We observed that no mcnticn was made in your research
proposal of'tho importance of p.-Iuc-@. prickaging, marketing, and
promotional techniqu(-!-, in helpirrr sr7-,-.ers to reduce tire hazards. As
:you may know, .1 have stressed th- ir-ortance'of education in dealing
with lifestyle health problems ot which cigarette smoking is an
outstanding example. It is perhaps 1--imely to consider the tobacco
industry's role in such education. Officers of the Department will
'be pleased to suggest specific ways that the industry can contribute.
Thank you for p resenting the research document to us and
for giving us an opportunity to join you in this research.
Yours txuly,
110,
Marc Lalonde
N.)
BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 20 April 1999