Statement by the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, on Tobacco Control

OTTAWA, April 17, 2012 /CNW/ - Canada is a world leader in tobacco control.  Smoking is at an all-time low in Canada, with smoking rates dropping to a historic low of 17%.  The number of Canadians who smoke on a daily basis is even lower, at 13%.  

Our government is proud of the work we have done, and is now refocusing our anti-smoking grants and contributions program towards populations with higher smoking rates.  In particular, aboriginal populations within Canada have rates as high as 50%.

We are committed to helping all Canadians in their fight against smoking.  Our Government has introduced new warning labels on cigarette packages, which contain a national quitline phone number for people who want help quitting.  We have banned flavoured little cigars, which were clearly targeted towards youth.

These initiatives will continue.

The current tobacco program is a decade old.  It has helped contribute to success, but now is the time to make changes that focus on those populations that are smoking far more than the national average.

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