November 13, 2013
For immediate release
Factsheet: Government of Canada Actions to Combat Youth Smoking
Oakville, Ontario - Eve Adams, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, and Member of Parliament for Mississauga - Brampton South, in collaboration with the Canadian Cancer Society and Heart and Stroke Foundation met with students today to discuss tobacco use and how young Canadians can avoid the dangers of smoking.
"Canada is a world leader in the fight against tobacco. Smoking rates are at an all-time low, but it is critical that we continue to encourage people to avoid tobacco," Parliamentary Secretary Adams told students at White Oaks Secondary School in Oakville, Ontario. "It is especially important that young people be encouraged to avoid smoking. Smoking cessation is the single best thing a person can do for their health," Adams said.
According to the 2012 Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (CTUMS), the prevalence of tobacco use by Canadian youth aged 15 to 17 years is seven per cent, the lowest rate ever recorded for this age group.
The Government of Canada is taking concrete action to reduce smoking rates in Canada. To make tobacco less appealing to youth, in 2009 Canada became the first country in the world to ban the use of certain additives - including flavours like chocolate and bubble gum - in cigarettes, little cigars and blunt wraps (cigar rolling paper) as well as placing further restrictions on advertising of tobacco products in publications that could be seen by youth. In 2011, the Government made larger health warnings on cigarette and little cigar packages a requirement across the country. And earlier this month, the Government introduced legislation to create mandatory penalties of imprisonment for individuals repeatedly convicted of cross-border trafficking and smuggling of contraband tobacco.
"The health of Canadians is a priority for our Government and we will continue to take measures in order to further reduce smoking rates - especially among Canadian kids," Parliamentary Secretary Adams said.
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