Health Canada plans to drastically lower tobacco use by 2035

Health Canada is pushing forward with an aggressive plan to drastically decrease tobacco use across the country.

But first, it’s asking for your help.

To try to curb Canadians’ use of tobacco, the government has launched a seven-week public consultation on the future of tobacco control.

“I am excited to hear what ideas Canadians have about how we can make this a reality,” Health Minister Jane Philpott said in a statement. “Canada has long been a world leader in reducing tobacco use, and I am confident that we will continue to see fewer Canadians smoking in the years to come.”

Every year, more than 115,000 Canadians start smoking and 37,000 people die from tobacco-related illnesses, according to Health Canada.

“Despite our ongoing efforts to reduce the overall smoking rate, just over one in 10 or about four million Canadians, still smoke,” Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Teresa Tam said. “Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and premature death among Canadians.”

Health Canada’s goal is to drop tobacco use in the country to less than five per cent by 2035.

Although Canada’s overall smoking rate dropped from 22 per cent in 2001 to 13 per cent in 2015, smoking rates for youth and young adults have remained unchanged since 2013.

In an attempt to curb youth exposure to tobacco, the Ontario Lung Association said it is asking the government to change the rating of any film that shows smoking to 18A.

Although the appearance of smoking has drastically declined in films over the last few decades, it still appears in several popular films. The Oscar nominated film “La La Land” has 10 scenes where smoking is prevalent.

Chris Yaccato, with the Ontario Lung Association, said it isn’t just movies but also the rise in medicinal and recreational marijuana that is bringing smoking back into the limelight.

“(Smoking) is making a comeback and we need to address this,” he explained. “So, these ideas that Health Canada has put on the table is exactly what we need to be talking about.

“In the end of the day, smoking serves no purpose. It doesn’t add to your lifestyle. In actuality it inhibits it. So, the more difficult we can make it for someone to smoke, the better.”

Other proposed steps include:

• Adopting stringent plain packaging for tobacco products
• Banning the use of menthol in cigarettes, blunt wraps and most cigars
• Addressing the risks and benefits of vaping products starting with the introduction of new vaping legislation
• Supporting First Nation and Inuit communities in the development and implementation of tobacco control projects that are socially and culturally appropriate
• Developing new and innovative multi-sectoral partnerships to address tobacco use as a common risk factor for chronic disease

 

As well, options include raising the minimum smoking age nationally to 21 and expanding smoke- and vapour-free spaces — including bans on use on post-secondary campuses, in public parks, and in multi-unit dwellings.

Read Health Canada’s complete call to action below.

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