Youth Leadership Team (Tobacco control and vaping)

Background

In 1999, Health Canada instituted an external youth advisory body to provide advice on tobacco control programs targeted to youth. The Youth Leadership Team (YLT) provides a mechanism for Health Canada to engage young audiences with tobacco control issues, enable them to develop knowledge and skills, and build leadership capacity. Over the years, the structure of the group has evolved.

YLT members provide their insights and feedback on vaping and tobacco control topics including:

• public education initiatives and resources
• policy and regulatory initiatives

Members also collaborate to create and implement tobacco and vaping prevention and cessation projects in their communities and schools. YLT initiatives have consisted of presentations, videos, social media activities and peer-to-peer assistance in quitting smoking.

Membership

Members are between the ages of 16 and 22 with at least one representative from each province and territory. The aim is to include members to reflect the diversity in Canadian society such as but not limited to:

• Inuit, First Nations and Métis communities
• different races, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or other factors

The YLT also seeks representation to include youth who smoke or vape, who have either quit or have never started.

Contact

For more information about the YLT, or for ways to get involved, contact the Tobacco Control Directorate.