Op-Ed Piece

I am extremely pleased to have introduced amendments to the Tobacco Act that will help protect young people from smoking.

This was a promise made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper during the election last Fall. He committed to taking action on tobacco marketing practises aimed at young people. Yesterday, we followed through on this by tabling the “Cracking Down on Tobacco Marketing Aimed at Youth Act.”

It takes a tough stand against tobacco products that are packaged, priced and flavoured to appeal to the most vulnerable -- young people. If passed, it will also prohibit tobacco advertising in the types of publications that youth may be reading – and position Canada as a world leader in tobacco control.

Smoking is Canada’s most serious preventable public health issue.  Tens of thousands of Canadians suffer from health problems associated with smoking.

The amendments to the Tobacco Act will prohibit the addition of flavours to certain tobacco products that entice young people to experiment with smoking. The amendments will also help to shield them from products that might encourage a life-long habit with well-known serious health consequences.

In 2007, more than 400 million little cigars – also known as cigarillos – were sold in Canada. Many of those are made to taste like chocolate, bubble gum or tropical punch – flavours that appeal to young people who have little or no experience with tobacco. Flavoured sheets or tubes made from tobacco, known as “blunt wraps,” are also marketed to young people and sold individually or in low-priced “kiddy packs.”  These types of marketing strategies have to stop. Tobacco is not candy and should never be mistaken as such.

Another factor that could encourage young people to try smoking is the price of tobacco products. If a tobacco product is inexpensive, more young people are likely to try it. More than a decade ago, the Government of Canada required that cigarette packages hold a minimum of 20 cigarettes precisely so they would be less affordable for kids. We are now extending that same rule to cigarillos and blunts for the same reason.

This new legislation would put an end to the wave of tobacco advertising that reaches our youth through a recent resurgence of tobacco ads in free entertainment weeklies and daily newspapers. Currently, the Tobacco Act prohibits most advertising, but allows certain types of advertising in publications with an adult readership of at least 85 per cent. These changes will stop all tobacco advertising from appearing in these publications.

I am very pleased that we have received support for this legislation from many stakeholders including Physicians for a Smoke Free Canada, the Canadian Lung Association, the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Medical Association. It is my sincere hope that this legislation will pass through Parliament as quickly as possible.

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health