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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:
None Active
Recent Developments:
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.
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