Player's to Terminate Racing Program?

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Player's to Terminate Racing Program?
©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.
Tobacco bill C-71 may force Player's to pull out immediately
Saturday, April 19 — Senior policy analyst of Health Canada,William Maga, issued a letter to the Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers'Council, explaining that the government of Canada now intends toenforce all elements of the Tobacco Act, Bill C-71, immediately afterit receives royal assent.
Player's Ltd. said yesterday it will cancel it's racing programentirely and immediately if C-71 becomes law next week withoutamendment. Player's contends that this contradicts certain promisesmade by some members of the Canadian Parliament, including HealthMinister David Dingwall. The drastic response by Player's followsdirectives to tobacco manufacturers in a document attached to thebill entitled "Responsibilities of Parties Affected by the TobaccoAct." Paragraph 7 of the document states:
"In the case of Canadian tobacco companies, cease displaying tobaccoproduct promotions at foreign performances, events or activities thatare to be broadcast into Canada."
Player's said if that statement is not amended, it "has no alternativebut to immediately cancel its Player's Racing Program . . . to protectthe company, company employees, suppliers, event partners and all otherindividuals and drivers associated with the Player's racing program fromprosecution under the Tobacco Act."
The company said Player's drivers would not be able to compete at theGrand Prix of Nazareth, Pa., scheduled next Sunday, April 27. ThePlayer's drivers possibly to watch from the grandstand are:
CART
Greg Moore of Maple Ridge, B.C.
Indy-Lights
David Empringham of Toronto
Lee Bentham of Richmond Hill, Ont.
Toyota Atlantics Series
Bertrand Godin of St-Hyacinthe, Que.
Alexandre Tagliani of Lachenaie, Que.
A total no-show of the Player's teams is unlikely, though, as thereare other sponsor contracts the teams are bound to. If Moore reallydoesn't compete at Nazareth, it will be a political statement of theteam and the tobacco industry rather than a financial necessity forForsythe Racing.
In what seems to be a conflicting position, Health Minister Dingwallhas stated this week that motorsports is important to Canada and thelegislation will be amended later this year to allow display ofsponsorship information (including tobacco sponsors) on cars,driver's uniforms and transporters. There is an uproar by someanti-smoking lobbyists but at least it may mean that CART and F-1 cancontinue in Canada, although it seems without Canadian-based Tobaccocompanies involved as sponsors.


		Check out the latest Sports Guides from Starting Blocks Int'l

		Player's to Terminate Racing Program? ©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc. Tobacco bill C-71 may force Player's to pull out immediately Saturday, April 19 — Senior policy analyst of Health Canada,William Maga, issued a letter to the Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers'Council, explaining that the government of Canada now intends toenforce all elements of the Tobacco Act, Bill C-71, immediately afterit receives royal assent. Player's Ltd. said yesterday it will cancel it's racing programentirely and immediately if C-71 becomes law next week withoutamendment. Player's contends that this contradicts certain promisesmade by some members of the Canadian Parliament, including HealthMinister David Dingwall. The drastic response by Player's followsdirectives to tobacco manufacturers in a document attached to thebill entitled "Responsibilities of Parties Affected by the TobaccoAct." Paragraph 7 of the document states: "In the case of Canadian tobacco companies, cease displaying tobaccoproduct promotions at foreign performances, events or activities thatare to be broadcast into Canada." Player's said if that statement is not amended, it "has no alternativebut to immediately cancel its Player's Racing Program . . . to protectthe company, company employees, suppliers, event partners and all otherindividuals and drivers associated with the Player's racing program fromprosecution under the Tobacco Act." The company said Player's drivers would not be able to compete at theGrand Prix of Nazareth, Pa., scheduled next Sunday, April 27. ThePlayer's drivers possibly to watch from the grandstand are: CART Greg Moore of Maple Ridge, B.C. Indy-Lights David Empringham of Toronto Lee Bentham of Richmond Hill, Ont. Toyota Atlantics Series Bertrand Godin of St-Hyacinthe, Que. Alexandre Tagliani of Lachenaie, Que. A total no-show of the Player's teams is unlikely, though, as thereare other sponsor contracts the teams are bound to. If Moore reallydoesn't compete at Nazareth, it will be a political statement of theteam and the tobacco industry rather than a financial necessity forForsythe Racing. In what seems to be a conflicting position, Health Minister Dingwallhas stated this week that motorsports is important to Canada and thelegislation will be amended later this year to allow display ofsponsorship information (including tobacco sponsors) on cars,driver's uniforms and transporters. There is an uproar by someanti-smoking lobbyists but at least it may mean that CART and F-1 cancontinue in Canada, although it seems without Canadian-based Tobaccocompanies involved as sponsors.