Media advisory - Youth head to Parliament Hill to call on the government to ban flavoured tobacco products

OTTAWA, Nov. 21, 2013 /CNW/ - The 8th National Conference on Tobacco or Health is being held in Ottawa from November 25 to 27. On November 25, more than 100 youth and adults from across Canada will be heading to Parliament Hill to call on the government to ban all flavoured tobacco products in the country.

The use of flavoured tobacco products by youth in Canada is high.  A recent study released by the Propel Centre for Population Health Impact at the University of Waterloo found that more than half (52 per cent) of high school smokers surveyed said they had used candy-flavoured tobacco in the past 30 days.

Youth from 15 Public Health Units across Ontario including representation from Northern Ontario's Flavour…Gone coalition and members from Ontario's Freeze the Industry group will be in attendance at the event along with other youth from groups across Canada.

What:	More than 100 youth and adults will be holding an event at Parliament Hill to call on the Federal Government to ban all flavoured tobacco products.
When:	Monday November 25, 2013
Time:	11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Location:	Parliament Hill [Wellington Street] - Main steps
Photo / Video Opportunities:	Youth will be displaying flavoured tobacco products to show how they are designed to look like candy, making them enticing to youth. Youth will be taking part in a visual activity to showcase the number of deaths per year attributed to tobacco related illness and the prevalence of flavoured tobacco use by youth in Canada.
Interview Opportunities:	Youth representatives will be available for interviews in English and French.

About Freeze the Industry

Freeze the Industry is a youth led coalition that is dedicated to stopping the Tobacco Industry from developing and marketing products that are enticing to youth. The group is calling for an immediate ban on all flavoured tobacco products. In the fall of 2013, the group merged with the former Flavour…Gone coalition, a group of Northern Ontario youth that were instrumental in encouraging the Federal Government to adopt legislation to restrict the sale of flavoured cigarillos (mini-cigars) in 2009.  For more information visit - http://www.freezetheindustry.com/

SOURCE: National Conference on Tobacco or Health (NCTH)

Phil Jansson
[email protected]
Prior to event: 613-549-1232 x1574
During event: 613-876-5486 (Mobile)