Seniors’ group CARP says it’s quitting Big Tobacco sponsorships after response from fired up members [Video]

The Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) says it will never again work with Big Tobacco after getting an earful from angry members who read a CBC News: Go Public investigation last week.

The story featured a B.C. woman speaking out about a sponsorship deal CARP accepted from Canadian tobacco company Rothmans, Benson & Hedges (RBH). 

In exchange for an undisclosed amount of money, CARP invited its members to take part in a focus group on smoking alternatives to cigarettes, such as vaping products, which RBH sells.

Angry CARP members wrote to the advocacy association — sharing their emails with Go Public — requesting that their memberships be cancelled.

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“Suggesting vaping as an acceptable alternative to smoking is disgraceful and clearly in the interests of the tobacco industry,” wrote Margaret Brady of Whitehorse, B.C.

“I was absolutely gobsmacked,” wrote Margaret Dougherty of Toronto.

“Hard to imagine that nicotine …