OTTAWA,
ON, June 17, 2024 /CNW/ - More than 46,000
people in Canada die because of
tobacco use every year. Through Canada's Tobacco Strategy, the Government of
Canada is working to save lives
and significantly reduce the number of Canadians who smoke
cigarettes and use other tobacco products from the current rate of
12% to less than 5% of the population by 2035.
Today, the Honourable Ya'ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and
Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, tabled the results of
the second legislative review of the Tobacco and Vaping Products
Act (TVPA) in Parliament. This review will help to monitor the
progress made in reducing tobacco use and its harms throughout the
country. It complements the first review which focused on the
TVPA's vaping-related provisions, tabled in Parliament in
December 2022.
Overall, the results of the legislative review show that
progress has been made in reducing tobacco-related death and
disease in Canada. For example,
youth smoking rates were at an all-time low of 1.6% in 2022.
However, some communities and regions continue to have
disproportionately high rates of tobacco use with some populations
experiencing smoking rates of over 60%. The review identifies
potential action areas including prioritizing First Nations, Inuit
and Métis engagement, cooperation and reconciliation; addressing
barriers to cessation; strengthening enforcement; increasing
transparency; addressing industry interference; and ensuring the
legislative framework is responsive to modern realities.
The Government of Canada
remains committed to working collaboratively with partners and key
stakeholders to protect Canadians from the harms of smoking and
nicotine addiction using the best available data and evidence.
Quotes
"Strong legislation is a key part of Canada's Tobacco
Strategy. The second legislative review of the TVPA offers an
invaluable opportunity to refine our strategies and work towards
achieving our target of less than 5% tobacco use
in Canada by 2035. Despite a decline in smoking numbers,
we still have more work to do to protect Canadians from the
harms of smoking."
The Honourable Ya'ara Saks
Minister of Mental
Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health
"The TVPA is essential to our goal of achieving less than 5%
tobacco use among Canadians by 2035 and we need everyone – health
professionals, advocates and individuals – working together to
achieve this goal. We look forward to leveraging the insights
gathered to refine our ongoing efforts to protect Canadians,
especially young people, from the harms of smoking and vaping."
The Honourable Mark Holland
Minister of
Health
Quick Facts
- The Tobacco Act was amended in May 2018 to become the Tobacco and Vaping
Products Act (TVPA). The TVPA and other legislation pieces
created a new legal framework for regulating vaping products. As
such, the TVPA includes a set of objectives related to tobacco as
well as to vaping.
- The TVPA includes a requirement for a legislative review three
years after coming-into-force, and every two years thereafter.
Periodic reviews provide a means to examine and respond to tobacco
and/or vaping related issues that may emerge over time.
- Canada continues to be a
leader in tobacco control initiatives, including becoming the first
country in the world to have health warnings on individual
cigarettes but we know we have to continue to develop innovative
approaches to support Canadians in quitting smoking.
- Information to help Canadians quit smoking is available at
Canada.ca/quitsmoking.
Associated Links
Report of the Second Legislative
Review of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act
Regulating tobacco and vaping products
Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA)
SOURCE Health Canada (HC)