Smokers in Ontario will have to dip further into their pockets for a pack of cigarettes following a hike in tobacco taxes, announced in Thursday’s tabling of the provincial budget.

Tobacco taxes will rise $2 per carton as of midnight Thursday. The taxes are expected to be $10 more per carton by 2020.

More on the 2017 Ontario Budget

The tax increase comes in a move to “accelerate Ontario’s goal of having the lowest smoking rates in Canada,” according to the budget report.

“Ontario has very low tax rates … It’s the province with the second lowest tobacco tax rates, only after Quebec, in the country,” said Michael Perley, director of Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco.

“Tax increases are our number one weapon, if you will, in the fight against tobacco industry products, so we’re very pleased about that,” he said.

Tobacco products on the contraband market could face higher enforcement measures as well. The government also announced proposed amendments to the Tobacco Tax Act that seek to ban the supply of cigarette filter components, including acetate tow, to registered manufacturers.

Read more:

A pre-pre-election budget to bolster Liberal fortunes: Cohn

Ontario budget puts focus on children’s well-being

Ontario Liberals unveil balanced budget that features free youth pharmacare plan

“That’s important because most smokers smoke filtered cigarettes,” Perley said.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Gary Grant, spokesperson of the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco, said the tax hike will drive smokers to the contraband market, adding that the provincial government needs to step up enforcement measures through police investigations.

“If you are going to increase cigarette taxes significantly, you should also be making some significant steps to stop the contraband trade.”