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Many stores have already taken steps to conceal the displays known in the industry as "power walls", the Ottawa Sun reported Friday.

"This marketing tool ... is a wall of temptation for smokers who have made the decision to quit", said Joanne Di Nardo, spokeswoman for the Ontario Tobacco-Free Network. "Well-documented research and evidence shows that these retail display stands increase tobacco sales by 12 percent to 28 percent."

Some stores have installed custom-fitted steel doors similar to filing cabinets, while others in Toronto have simply tacked sheets of cardboard over the displays behind cash registers.

Chris Wilcox, general manager of the Quickie Convenience Store Corp., which operates franchises in Eastern Ontario told the Sun all their stores have been compliant for some time, but he questioned the usefulness of the law.

"We've seen zero impact in terms of sales", he said.

Fines range from $4,000 to $150,000 for a third offense, the report said.

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