alPHa alPHa
home sitemap contact us print page email page search site site layout sitemap contact us print page email page search site site layout
alPHa  
alPHa alPHa
alPHa
alPHa about us alPHa online library alPHa resolutions alPHa health units alPHa news alPHa events alPHa careers alPHa directories alPHa members alPHa comoh alPHa related organizations

 
Tobacco

 

Position:

The Governments of Canada, Ontario and Canadian municipalities must act immediately to minimize the use of tobacco products and their related health impacts. Comprehensive strategies must include taxation, denormalization and strict controls on who may buy tobacco products and where they may be used. 

 

 Resolutions  Recent Developments

A11-11 - Provincial Adoption and Promotion of Smoke-Free Movies to Reduce the Impact of Smoking in Movies on Youth in Ontario

that the Association of Local Public Health Agencies call for the Province of Ontario to rate new movies with smoking "18A" in Ontario, and require that such films be ineligible for federal and provincial subsidies, with the sole exceptions being a clear and unambiguous demonstration of the dangers and consequences of tobacco use or a true representation of a real historical figure, who was known to smoke;

AND FURTHER that the Association of Local Public Health Agencies call for the Province of Ontario to require producers to certify on-screen that no one involved in the production of the movie received any remuneration, compensation or anything of value in consideration for using or displaying tobacco;

AND FURTHER that the Association of Local Public Health Agencies call for the Province of Ontario to require strong anti-smoking ads to be shown before any movie with tobacco use at the distributor’s expense, regardless of rating and distribution channel;

AND FURTHER that the Association of Local Public Health Agencies call for the Province of Ontario to require movie producers to stop identifying tobacco brands in films.

August 19 2011

alPHa has written a letter to the Premier urging action on this Resolution. Please click here to read.

August 29 2011

Response received from the Premier. Please click here to read.

A11-3 - Call for Immediate Release of a Comprehensive Tobacco Control Strategy for Ontario

THAT alPHa urgently request the Premier of Ontario (Dalton McGuinty), the Minister of Health Promotion & Sport (Margarett Best), the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care (Deb Matthews), the Office of the Attorney General (Chris Bentley), the Minister of Finance (Dwight Duncan), the Minister of Revenue (Sophia Aggelonitis) and the Chief Medical Officer of Health (Arlene King), to demonstrate the entire set of recommendations within the Tobacco Strategy Advisory Group report and announce a renewed, long-term commitment to a comprehensive tobacco control strategy to reduce use and exposure to tobacco products and the illnesses and deaths they cause to Ontario’s populations.

November 29 2011

alPHa has forwarded the August 19 letter to the Minister of Health and Long - Term Care as that Ministry now has responsibility for tobacco control programs. Please click here to read.

August 19 2011

alPHa has written to the Minister of Health Promotion urging action on this Resolution

Please click here to read.

 

A10-8 - Contraband Tobacco

THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies commends the federal government on its recent initiatives to control contraband tobacco via the interministerial Contraband Enforcement Strategy and calls upon the federal government to enhance its efforts to control the manufacture and sale of contraband tobacco by:

  • Increasing the cost of tobacco manufacturing licenses and licensing bonds to ensure tobacco manufacturers comply with provincial and federal legislation,
  • Introducing tracking and tracing systems for all manufactured tobacco products to allow effective monitoring of a product’s distribution chain and any diversions. (This would also facilitate identification of illicit products and make it more difficult to manufacture illicit cigarettes),
  • Imposing strict controls on the supply of materials to unlicensed tobacco manufacturers,
  • Sustaining efforts to control legitimate tobacco products through increasing taxes, restricting promotion,
  • Ensuring the success of the above measures by committing sufficient resources to their enforcement, using strong enforcement and deterrent penalties,
  • Monitoring the use of contraband tobacco, making results public, and providing education

 

April 21 2011

Ontario Government announced additional licensing and enforcement measures to enhance controls over contraband tobacco. Please click here to read more.

October 28 2010

alPHa has written a letter to the Premier in support of the recommendations of the Tobacco Strategy Advisory Group Report, Building On Our Gains, Taking Action Now: Ontario’s Tobacco Control Strategy for 2011 - 2016 , which includes addressing contraband.

 Please click here to read

August 20 2010

alPHa has written to the Minister of Public Safety notifying him of this Resolution. Please click here to read.

December 11 2009

alPHa wrote a letter to Sen. Hugh Segal supporting his recommendations for addressing contraband tobacco. Please click here to read.

August 13 2009

alPHa Letter to Federal Department of Finance supporting an enhanced stamping regime to reduce trade in contraband tobacco. Please click here to read.

April 1 2010

OCAT has sent a letter to the Ontario Minister of Revenue urging aggressive action on curtailing the contraband tobacco problem. Please click here to read.

January 21 2009

Letter to Minister of Health Promotion urging leadership on the contraband tobacco issue. Please click here to read.

June 23 2008

alPHa has written to the Premier of Ontario urging renewed efforts to stem contraband tobacco trade and availability in Ontario. Please click here to read.

 

A09-2 - Tobacco Advertising and Promotion

THAT the Association of local Public Health Agencies:

- write to the Federal Minister of Health and the Prime Minister advocating for a change to the proposed amendment to the Tobacco Act such that it includes a complete ban on tobacco advertising and promotion even where minors are prohibited by law (eg. bars and nightclubs);

- request that the Provincial Minister of Health, the Minister of Health Promotion, and the Premier advocate with their federal counterparts for a complete ban on tobacco advertising and promotion; and

- support national advocacy initiatives that call for further restrictions on tobacco advertising and promotions.

 

 

October 28 2010

alPHa has written a letter to the Premier in support of the recommendations of the Tobacco Strategy Advisory Group Report, Building On Our Gains, Taking Action Now: Ontario’s Tobacco Control Strategy for 2011 - 2016 , which include addressing advertising and promotion.

 Please click here to read

January 4 2010

Response to August alPHa Letter received from federal Health Minister outlining the provisions of federal bill C-32 (tobacco advertising, flavour additives etc.), which received Royal Assent in October 2009. Please click here to read.

October 8 2009

Bill C-32 has received Royal Assent, amending the Tobacco Act as follows:

PREVIOUSLY:

22 (1) Subject to this section, no person shall promote a tobacco product by means of an advertisement that depicts, in whole or in part, a tobacco product, its package or a brand element of one or that evokes a tobacco product or a brand element.

Exception:

(2) Subject to the regulations, a person may advertise a tobacco product by means of information advertising or brand-preference advertising that is in

(a) a publication that is provided by mail and addressed to an adult who is identified by name;

(b) a publication that has an adult readership of not less than eighty-five per cent; or

(c) signs in a place where young persons are not permitted by law.

 

 

AS AMENDED:

 

22 (1) Subject to this section, no person shall promote a tobacco product by means of an advertisement that depicts, in whole or in part, a tobacco product, its package or a brand element of one or that evokes a tobacco product or a brand element.

Exception

(2) Subject to the regulations, a person may advertise a tobacco product by means of information advertising or brand-preference advertising that is in

(a) a publication that is provided by mail and addressed to an adult who is identified by name; or

(b) a publication that has an adult readership of not less than eighty-five per cent; or

(c) signs in a place where young persons are not permitted by law.

August 14 2009

Letter written to the PM introducing this Resolution, urging swift enactment of Bill C-32, with consideration of expanding the prohibitions on tobacco advertising and promotion. Please click here to read.

 

A09-3 - Continued Investment in the Smoke Free Ontario Strategy

THAT alPHa urge the Premier of Ontario, and the Minister of Health Promotion (Margarett Best), Minister of Health and Long-Term Care (David Caplan), Office of The Attorney General (Chris Bentley) and the Minister of Finance and Revenue (Dwight Duncan) to commit to the goal of preserving and enhancing reductions in tobacco use, and to this end to reinstate funding to 2008-2009 levels and in addition, enhance funding for comprehensive tobacco control efforts in Ontario.

AND FURTHERMORE BE IT RESOLVED that alPHa advocate for the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy to continue to include and further enhance the role of youth within health units as a key component of prevention programming, with a planned evaluation.

AND FURTHERMORE BE IT RESOLVED that alPHa communicate with and engage other provincial associations and organizations with a concern for public health to support the importance of reinstating and enhancing funding for comprehensive tobacco control efforts in order to preserve and enhance the gains made to date.

 

 

October 28 2010

alPHa has written a letter to the Premier in support of the recommendations of the Tobacco Strategy Advisory Group Report, Building On Our Gains, Taking Action Now: Ontario’s Tobacco Control Strategy for 2011 - 2016 .

Please click here to read

August 14 2009

Letter written to the Deputy Minister of Health Promotion urging reinstatement of funding to the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy, with particular emphasis on the value of Youth Action Alliances.  Please click here to read.        

September 11 2009

Response received from the Deputy Minister to the August 14 letter. Please click here to read                                       

 

 TIMELINE OF DEVELOPMENTS LEADING UP TO THE PASSAGE OF THE SMOKE FREE ONTARIO ACT
 

June 8, 2005

BILL 164 PASSED INTO LAW
Bill 164 will come into force as the Smoke Free Ontario Act on May 31 2006. The final vote was 71 in favour and 6 opposed.
Please click here to read alPHa's response (letter) 
Please click here to read alPHa's response (news release)

May 31, 2005

The Ontario government has announced an investment of $50M in the Smoke Free Ontario strategy, which will include $7.7M for health protection and enforcement activities carried out by health units.  The total represents a 60% increase over last year's invesment, and is the largest tobacco control investment in Ontario's history. The news release and backgrounder contain specific details of how the dollars are to be distributed.

Please click here for the government news release
Please click here for the media backgrounder 
Please click here for alPHa's response (news release)
Please click here for alPHa's response (letter to the Minster)

UPDATE May 10, 2005

Bill 164, as amended by the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs 
is now posted here, and has been ordered for third reading. Transcripts of the hearings before the Standing Committee may accessed through the following links:

Thursday, April 21  (Toronto hearing) - alPHa presentation around 17:30. Click here for the written submission.
Friday, April 22        (Oshawa hearing)
Thursday, April 28  (Toronto hearing)
Friday, April 29        (Tillsonburg hearing)
Thursday, May 5     (Clause-by-clause consideration by the Standing Committee)

May 6, 2005

An amendment to Bill 164 was introduced by Liberal MP and Standing Committee member Phil McNeely which essentially gives a two-year grace period for retail displays of tobacco industry products, with a full ban coming into effect in May, 2008. It was accepted by government.
The amendment may be read here.


May 2-3, 2005

A flurry of advocacy has taken place to urge retail display bans of tobacco industry products without qualification. A letter was signed by 23 of Ontario's medical officers of health, who were participating in a planning retreat in London. Please click here to view the letter.
Several of Ontario's Boards of Health have indicated support for this to alPHa, and these are listed below. Many of them indicated support in time to have their names added to the Coalition Against Tobacco 'Power Wall' Displays in a full-page
Toronto Star ad that can be viewed here.

Algoma
Durham Region
Eastern Ontario
Grey-Bruce
Halton Region
Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health
Lambton
Leeds - Grenville - Lanark
Northwestern Health Unit
Ottawa Public Health
Peterborough County-City Health Unit
Porcupine Health Unit
Sudbury and District
Thunder Bay District Health Unit
Toronto Public Health
Region of Waterloo Public Health
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit

April 28, 2005

alPHa joined the Non-Smokers' Rights Association at a Queen's Park press conference yesterday, to raise the alarm about the loophole contained in Bill 164 that could allow the continued retail display of tobacco industry products despite the government's election promise to ban such displays outright.

Jeff Gottheil, who spoke at alPHa's recent All Members' Meeting, released his video that illustrates the value of these displays to the tobacco industry as a powerful marketing tool. A package that includes this video and other materials that will support local efforts to close the loophole in Bill 164 will be distributed to all health units through alPHa shortly. 

Read the
press release

February  2005

 

On February 16th, Bill 164 (the Smoke Free Ontario Act) was introduced for second reading in the legislature. Debate on the Bill will continue through several sessions. Though meandering and lengthy, the transcripts from the Hansard (click on the links below to access them) contain some of the arguments that can be expected as public hearings on the new law are held following the conclusion of the second reading.

Please click here for the February 16 afternoon debate.
Please click here for the February 16 evening debate
Please click here for the February 21 debate


January 19, 2005

The provincial government has announced its support and promotion of smoking cessation programs, the third of three components of the Smoke Free Ontario Strategy. Please click here to read the government news release

December 15th, 2004

Bill 164, the Smoke Free Ontario Act introduced in the Ontario Legislature. If passed, this law will virtually eliminate all involuntary exposure to second hand smoke in public and work places.
Click the following links to explore the proposed statute:
Bill 164 2004, AN ACT TO RENAME AND AMEND THE TOBACCO CONTROL ACT, 1994, REPEAL THE SMOKING IN THE WORKPLACE ACT AND MAKE COMPLEMENATARY AMENDMENTS TO OTHER ACTS
BILL 164 COMPENDIUM: Explanatory notes on the text of the proposed legislation

February 21, 2002
Received a response from the PHB, which indicated that the MOHLTC is reviewing options for strengthening all components of the renewed Ontario Tobacco Strategy, including the Tobacco Control Act.

Resolution #A01-6:

August 30, 2001
Confirmation that Bill S-15 was ruled out of order by the house.  He indicated that the federal announcement of $480 million for tobacco control initiatives was a result of this campaign.  The resolution was closed.

Notes:

  • KFLA board of health passed a motion on February 28, 2001 to request that NRT and Zyban be covered under the Ontario Drug Benefits program to assist Ontarians who wish to quit smoking.  A letter was sent to Minister Clement on March 28, 2001.
  • Sudbury MOH P. Sutcliffe sent a letter to Minister Clement on May 25, 2001 echoing the above action.
  • The Board of Health of Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington (KFLA) Health Unit passed a motion on March 28, 2001 to request of the province 100% provincial funding for tobacco use by-law enforcement activities.
  • October 19, 2001: Letter received from H&PECHU informing that its Board of Health passed a motion to contact alPHa and all other health units to lobby for a re-examination of the TCA to prohibit smoking in all public buildings.  Attached were letters of support from the Grey Bruce and HKPR Boards of Health.
  • March 27, 2002: The Ontario Medical Association's Board of Directors resolved at a meeting earlier this month to conduct a prominent public campaign urging the province to implement a 100% ban on smoking in workplaces and public areas.
  • February 11, 2002: A major announcement was made by the OMA at a press conference, which called for a 100% province-wide ban on smoking in public places.  alPHa sent its press release out the same day, including the April 2002 MOH Consensus Statement calling for the same.
  • February 12, 2003: Health Minister Tony Clement announced that the government will consider a review of its policy on provincial legislation.

 

 

Breaking News
alPHa
Login
Username
Password