Ontario budget: Canadian Cancer Society applauds government's continued commitment to preventing skin cancer and looks to further action on health promotion initiatives.

TORONTO, May 2, 2013 /CNW/ - The Canadian Cancer Society is pleased with the Ontario government's continued focus on health promotion initiatives that aim to reduce skin cancer, child obesity and smoking rates.

"The budget reaffirms the government's commitment to skin cancer prevention," says Kelly Gorman, Senior Manager, Public Issues, Canadian Cancer Society Ontario Division. "Currently, there is legislation on the table that, if successful, would prohibit the sale of tanning services to youth under 18. We encourage all parties to work together to ensure that this important legislation passes before the beginning of this year's graduation season so that we can protect the health of our youth."

The Society also welcomes the additional $5 million annual investment in the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy and plans to implement measures that will help reduce the supply of low-cost, contraband tobacco available to young people.

While the Society welcomes the government's continued commitment to addressing cancer-control issues, it encourages government to move forward with measures that will achieve its commitment in helping to reduce childhood obesity by 20% over five years.

The Society will continue to advocate for measures that will:

• Help reduce smoking rates in Ontario by gradually increasing tobacco taxes to meet the national average. Ontario currently has the lowest tobacco taxes of any province in Canada.
  
  
• Improve access to cancer drugs by ensuring that all drugs recommended by Cancer Care Ontario's clinical guidelines are added to the provincial drug formulary.
  
  
• Protect Ontarians from environmental and occupational exposures to toxics.

For 75 years, the Canadian Cancer Society has been with Canadians in the fight for life. We have been relentless in our commitment to prevent cancer, fund research and support Canadians touched by cancer. From this foundation, we will work with Canadians to change cancer forever so fewer Canadians are diagnosed with the disease and more survive. When you want to know more about cancer, visit our website at cancer.ca or call our toll-free bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1-888-939-3333 (TTY: 1-866-786-3934).

SOURCE: Canadian Cancer Society (Ontario Division)

Media contact: Michael Sheiner, Senior Advisor, Communications, Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division: 416-323-7181; [email protected]