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EDMONTON -- An unexpected boom in tobacco-tax revenue has raised serious questions about efforts to cut smoking in Alberta. One official charges that the tobacco industry may be faking numbers in a bid to sabotage the nation's most-extensive anti-smoking program, while the head of a non-smoking lobby group says it only proves Alberta's again losing the nicotine war.

"There's no question that we are. You have the numbers that show it," said Les Hagen of the Action on Smoking and Health lobby group.

One year after its boasting of Statistics Canada figures that suggest 44,000 fewer smokers in the province, tax revenue numbers from the provincial government now reveal a sharp increase in tobacco purchases.

Alberta earned $671 million in tobacco taxes in the fiscal year that ended March 31. That's up 5.8% from the previous year, when income was $618 million.

The cigarette tax rate -- $4 per package of 25 -- remained the same in both years.

"What's happening is rampant discounting by the manufacturers. They're flooding the market with discount brands in reaction to the tax increases in the past few years," Hagen said.

But Lloyd Carr, head of anti-smoking efforts led by the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission, says sales numbers may have been inflated by cigarette makers, desperate to derail Alberta's aggressive non-smoking programs that he says lead Canada in cost and comprehensiveness.

"They'd want to indicate that the strategy isn't working. The industry does several things like that," Carr said.

"They have to work to replace the 3,400 smokers who die in this province every year."

Albertans bought 3.5 billion cigarettes in 2002-03, according to figures reported by Alberta Revenue.

That rose to 3.6 billion in 2003-04. Cigar sales shot to nearly 26 million in 2003-04, up from 21 million in 2002-03.

The new tax figures are worrisome, Alberta Health Minister Gary Mar said.

"I think it shows it will be very important for us to continue with the provincial tobacco reduction strategy," Mar said.