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Invests Unprecedented $50 Million For Anti-Smoking Initiatives
TORONTO, May 31 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is investing an
unprecedented $50 million this year in its Smoke-Free Ontario Campaign - the
largest anti-smoking investment in the province's history, Health and Long-
Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.
"We're protecting people from second-hand smoke, we're helping prevent
young people from starting to smoke and we're giving people the tools they
need to quit," Smitherman said. "We are backing up strong anti-smoking laws
with equally strong enforcement initiatives and programs to help individuals
and communities make Ontario smoke-free."
The $50 million represents a 66 per cent increase from 2004/05. It will
be invested in 2005/06 to support the three main goals of the Smoke-Free
Ontario Campaign: protection, prevention and cessation. It includes funding
for youth prevention programs, cessation, public education and enforcement, as
well as initiatives targeted at high-risk populations such as Aboriginal
communities and low-income earners.
"The Smoke-Free Ontario Campaign will result in reduced tobacco use,
fewer illnesses and fewer deaths," said Dr. Sheela Basrur, Ontario's Chief
Medical Officer of Health. "We're stopping smoking in its tracks by preventing
kids from lighting up and becoming addicted to tobacco. We're also ensuring
help is readily available for Ontarians who want to quit smoking."
The $50 million includes:
- Youth Prevention Programs ($5.6M): Funding for community and
school-based prevention programs.
- Cessation ($13.8M): Funding for new programs targeting high-risk
populations and to expand existing tobacco initiatives including: the
Ontario Medical Association, Ontario Pharmacists' Association and
Ontario Dentists' Association's program to train health professionals
on cessation; the "Leave the Pack Behind" program to educate
post-secondary students about the hazards of smoking; and
Smokers' Helpline. This winter, the government will launch a major
cessation initiative including improved access to nicotine-replacement
therapies.
- Aboriginal Programs ($2M): Funding for prevention, education,
cessation and tobacco control resources in Aboriginal communities.
- Evaluation, Surveillance and Administration ($4.6M).
- Provincial Support Programs ($2.7M): Funding for support, training and
technical assistance for tobacco control staff and resources for
health care organizations, communities and the public.
- Public Health Units ($7.7M): Funding to increase the resources of
public health units for health protection and enforcement.
- Public Education ($13.6M): Funding to increase public awareness of and
support for protection, prevention and cessation through mass media
and programs targeting high-risk communities.
The McGuinty government has also introduced the Smoke-Free Ontario Act
that will, if passed, ban smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces
as of May 31, 2006. This would include restaurants, bars, schools, private
clubs, sports arenas, entertainment venues, work vehicles and offices. As
well, the legislation contains tougher restrictions on tobacco sales to minors
and a ban on displays of tobacco products in retail outlets. The legislation
is currently before the legislature for final debate.
"We applaud the government's commitment to making Ontario 100 per cent
smoke-free and for responding to the concerns of the health care community,"
said Rocco Rossi, Chief Executive Officer, Heart and Stroke Foundation of
Ontario. "We look forward to working in partnership with the government to
reduce smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke. A smoke-free Ontario is not only
good public health policy, it's an admirable goal that will save countless
lives."
In addition to the human toll, tobacco-related diseases cost the Ontario
economy at least $1.7 billion in health care annually, resulting in more than
$2.6 billion in productivity losses and accounting for at least 500,000
hospital days each year.
Today's announcement is part of the McGuinty government's comprehensive
plan to improve health care in Ontario. The plan includes keeping Ontarians
healthier, reducing wait times for key procedures, creating Family Health
Teams, and increasing access to doctors and nurses.
This news release, along with other media materials, such as matte
stories and audio clips, on other subjects, are available on our website at:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca under the News Media section.
For more information on achievements in health care, visit:
www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca.
Version française disponible
Backgrounder
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SMOKE-FREE ONTARIO
Tobacco use is the number one cause of premature disease and death in
Ontario, responsible for 16,000 deaths each year. In addition to the human
toll, tobacco has a financial impact. Every year, the cost to Ontarians is
$1.7 billion for health care and $2.6 billion in lost productivity.
The Smoke-Free Ontario Campaign
The McGuinty government is committing an unprecedented $50 million in
2005/06 to support the Smoke Free Ontario Campaign - one of the most
comprehensive tobacco protection, prevention and cessation strategies in North
America. This will mean more funding for public health units, community-based
youth prevention programs, public education, cessation programs, research and
evaluation, as well as initiatives targeted at high risk populations such as
Aboriginal communities and low-income earners.
The $50 million is the biggest anti-smoking investment in the province's
history. It will be used to support the three main goals of the Smoke-Free
Ontario Campaign: protection, prevention and cessation:
- Youth Prevention Programs ($5.6M): Funding for community and
school-based prevention programs.
- Cessation ($13.8M): Funding for new programs targeting high-risk
populations and the expansion of existing tobacco initiatives,
including the Ontario Medical Association, Ontario Pharmacists'
Association and Ontario Dentists' Association's program to train
health professionals on cessation; the "Leave the Pack Behind" program
to educate post-secondary students about the hazards of smoking; and
Smokers' Helpline. This winter, the government will launch a major
cessation initiative including improved access to nicotine-replacement
therapies.
- Aboriginal Programs ($2M): Funding for prevention, education,
cessation, and tobacco control resources in Aboriginal communities.
- Evaluation, Surveillance and Administration ($4.6M).
- Provincial Support Programs ($2.7M): Funding for support, training and
technical assistance for tobacco control staff and resources for
health care organizations, communities and the public.
- Public Health Units ($7.7M): Funding to increase the resources of
public health units for health protection and enforcement.
- Public Education ($13.6M): Funding to increase public awareness of and
support for protection, prevention and cessation through mass media
and programs targeting high-risk communities.
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act
The McGuinty government has also introduced the Smoke-Free Ontario Act
that will, if passed, prohibit smoking in all enclosed workplaces, protecting
all workers regardless of where they are employed, and will prohibit smoking
in all enclosed public places that are not primarily a place of residence as
of May 31, 2006. This would include restaurants, bars, schools, private clubs,
sports arenas, entertainment venues, work vehicles and offices.
The proposed Act would also limit the sale, distribution and use of
tobacco products, including stricter measures to ensure that minors cannot buy
cigarettes and a ban on the display of cigarettes in all retail outlets by
2008.
The proposed legislation, like the current Tobacco Control Act, respects
the use of sacred tobacco for traditional cultural or spiritual purposes.
Protecting Young People
In addition to the proposed legislation, the government has taken a
number of steps to prevent young people from smoking, including:
- Launching an innovative multi-media campaign - developed by kids for
kids - to prevent smoking among young people. The stupid.ca campaign
features an interactive website that has received more than 500,000
new visitors since October 2004 and has won several national and
international awards for education and advertising.
- Raising tobacco taxes by $6.25 a carton since November 2003.
Support for the Smoke-Free Ontario Campaign
"We congratulate the government on moving forward with a Smoke-Free
Ontario. The combination of tough legislation, education and cessation will
help reduce the smoking-related risk of cancer for both adults and children.
The increased financial support of Smokers' Helpline has enabled us to offer
the service to more individuals who would like to know more about quitting
smoking."
Peter Goodhand, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario
Division.
"The Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco applauds Minister Smitherman,
the Premier and their colleagues for leveling the playing field so that
workers and members of the public in all parts of Ontario can enjoy indoor
workplaces and recreational environments entirely free of the toxic effects of
second-hand tobacco smoke. No one anywhere in the province should have to risk
becoming ill or die from second-hand smoke exposure in order to hold a job or
socialize with friends and family. Now, they won't have to."
Michael Perley, Director, Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco
"On behalf of The Lung Association, we are delighted to see this
commitment to the youth tobacco control initiatives by the Minister of Health
and Long-Term Care. Over the years we have been a leader in tobacco prevention
among youth and will now be able to reach even more young people through our
Youth Advocacy Training Institute."
Manu Malkani, President and CEO, the Ontario Lung Association.
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For further information: Members of the media: David Spencer, Minister's Office, (416) 327-4320; Dan Strasbourg, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, (416) 314-6197; Members of the general public: (416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154
Other news releases disseminated by this ministry
