2 - Fridays, fudy 27, 2987 - North Shore News Every cultural and protessional sports group in Canada has the right to accept or reject tobacco brand sponsorship. The Government wants to take away that right. The Federal Government has introduced legislation to ban all Canadian tobacco adver- tising, promotion and brand sponsorship. If this legislation is passed into law, these activities will be illegal by January Ist,1989. No matter how you feel about smoking, if you're concerned about civil liberties, you should examine this issue and arrive at your own conclusions. With brand sponsorship banned cultural and professional groups stand to lase $10 million a year in aid WHAT THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION MEANS. Under Bill C-51, brand sponsorship of professional sports or cultural activities will become illegal. Corporate sponsorship will still be allowed. What does this mean? It means, for example, that Rothmans' sponsorship of equestrian events would be perfectly legal while the duMaurier Council tor the Arts would become an outlawed organization. Ifthat seems more than a littie silly to you, you're not alone. WHAT IS THE REASON FOR SPONSORSHIP? On the one hand sponsorship provides tobacco companies with the opportunity to Imperial Tabacco Limited © RJR-Macdonald Inc. © Rothmans. Benson & Hedges lnc. © Margot Bindhardt ¢ Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet e Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs eC. Canadian Society of Club Managers ¢ Canadian TPD Tour ¢ Cayuga Speedway Limited ¢ Committe of Concerned Tobacco Area Municipalities © Coastal Jazz & Blues Society ¢ @ Fédération Auto-Quebec # Internationat Festival of Authors ¢ Hon. Pauline McGibbon @ Mosport Park Ltd. # Race City Speedway ® Racing, Associates Canada Smokers’ Freedom Suciety ® Sports Car Club of Briish Columbia ® Tennis Canada ¢ Toronto Musicians’ Association (Local 149) @ Riki Turolsky © Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra Equity Showcase Theatr WHO WILL THE LEGISLATION HURT? In recent years, the tobacco industry has provided up to $10 million annually for a variety of sponsorships and grants to cultural and professional sports groups in Canada. These funds have assisted Canadian performers and athletes in many fields to achieve world standards and win interna- tional recognition. Among those who have benefitted from brand sponsorship are: Royal Canadian Golf Association Tennis Canada Canadian Racing Drivers Association Calgary Philharmonic Royal Winnipeg Ballet Citadel Theatre Edmonton Symphony Ontario Jockey Club Canadian Opera Company Tarragon Theatre Orchestra London Ontario Harness Horsemen's Association Toronto Symphony Sarnia International Symphony Cercle Moliére Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal Thédtre de Ve Grands Ballets Canadiens Montreal World Film Festival Neptune Theatre Maritime Breeders Association Symphony Nova Scotia National Darts Federation of Canada he responsible corporate citizens, offering financial support in badly needed areas for activities that provide enjoyment to millions of Canadians. * On the other hand, it allows tobacco com- panies to reinforce brand awareness in the hope that current smokers will be encouraged to try a particular brand. Will legal corporate sponsorship and ille- gal brand sponsorship change the whole notion of sponsorship? Yes. Sponsorship is not charity. It is a business and social investment designed to benefit both parties. If the benefits are denied, the motivation is destroyed. FREEDOM OF CHOICE. Sponsorship is by definition a relationship of mutual consent. Tobacco companies are under no obligation to sponsor anything and no organization is obligated to accept their sponsorship. Bill C-51 denies that freedom of choice to both parties. It seems clear in a free society that organi- zations should have the right to seek or accept sponsorship from a particular company or brand. It seems equally clear that to suggest tobacco brand sponsorship of an opera ora sporting event might encourage people to start smoking, stretches the very limits of credibility. Brand sponsorship of professional sports events will be outlawed under proposed legislation CAN ANYTHING BE DONE ABOUT BILL C-51? Yes. Public awareness about the extrem- ism of the Bill can be increased. That is the purpose of this advertisement. Concern about the implications of the Bill can be expressed to your Member of Parliament. That way, perhaps Bill C-51 can be stopped or modified before it’s 100 late. _ If you would like more information on this issue, or if you'd like to add your voice to those expressing concern, write to P.O. Box 80, Station “H”, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 2K8. anadian Racing Drivers Association red Davis © Arnold Edinborough vents ® Royal Canadian Golf Association