Hey;

I do take exception that Canada is one step away from socialism. The reason we tax cigars and booze so heavily is because we have an incredibly comprehensive health care system. The logic behind the gigantic tobacco taxes is that they cause poor health which in turns strains the health care system. While I don't think cigars are a major cause of poor health, cigarettes definitly are. So, in order to offset the cost of tobacco related illnesses, both the Federal and Provincial governments tax the hell out of tobacco. We are NOT socialist.