alPHa Position
The Governments of Canada, Ontario and Canadian municipalities must act immediately to minimize the use of tobacco, cannabis and vaping products and their related health impacts. Comprehensive strategies must include taxation, denormalization and strict controls on who may
buy such products and where they may be used.
RESOLUTION A24-1, Permitting Applications for Automatic Prohibition Orders under the Smoke Free OntarioAct, 2017 for Vapour Product Sales Offences |
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Local Public Health Agencies urge through the
Ministry of Health to the Government of Ontario to include automatic prohibition order applications by
public health for convictions related to vapour product retail sales to prevent unauthorized sales to the
public;
AND FURTHER that the Association of Local Public Health Agencies advise all Ontario Boards of Health to
recommend their local Members of Provincial Parliament to advocate for an amendment to Section 22 of
the Smoke Free Ontario Act, 2017 to include vapour product sales convictions for inclusion within
automatic prohibition order applications.
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Developments on A24-1:
July 18, 2024
alPHa has sent a letter to the Minister of Health introducing this resolution.
RESOLUTION A23-2, Toward a Renewed Smoking, Vaping, and Nicotine Strategy in Ontario |
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Local Public Health Agencies write to the Ontario Minister of Health recommending that a renewed and comprehensive smoking and nicotine strategy be developed with the support of a multidisciplinary panel of experts; AND FURTHER that the Association of Local Public Health Agencies recommend that, in the development of a target for such a provincial strategy, the expert panel examine the sufficiency and inclusiveness of Canada’s Tobacco Strategy target of less than 5% commercial tobacco use by 2035 with respect to all nicotine delivery products;
AND FURTHER that the Association of Local Public Health Agencies recommend that the pursuit of health equity be foundational to such a provincial strategy;
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Developments on A23-2:
June 12, 2025
alPHa has sent a letter to the Minister of Health that urges reinvesting a portion of the provincial allocation of the tobacco settlement to strengthen the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy, with reference to alPHa Resolution A23-02.
April 5, 2024
alPHa has addressed a response to the CMOH Annual Report to the Minister of Health, with this and five other related alPHa Resolutions attached.
March 28, 2024
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health’s 2023 Annual Report, Balancing Act: An All-of-Society Approach to Substance Use and Harms, was released. It is a call for an all-of-society approach to reduce substance use harms and touches upon themes contained in several alPHa Resolutions, including this one.
December 1, 2023
alPHa has sent a letter to the federal Minister of Health urging regulation of nicotine pouches in context of a comprehensive smoking, vaping and nicotine strategy.
August 15, 2023
alPHa has written a letter to the Minister introducing Resolution A23-02.
RESOLUTION A21-1, Reducing the Harms, the Availability and Youth Appeal of Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping Products through Regulation |
THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) write to the federal and provincial Ministers of Health acknowledging the steps already taken by the Governments of Canada and of Ontario to address the epidemic of youth vaping, and urge that they enact the following policy measures based on those recommended by the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health:
- A ban on all vapour product and e-substance flavours except tobacco;
- A cap on the nicotine concentration levels in any vapour product to 20 mg/mL, in alignment with the European Union Tobacco Products Directive;
- The application of the same plain and standardized packaging regime that is applied to commercial tobacco products and accessories to vapour products;
- The enforcement of strict age-verification measures for online sales, including age-verification at time of purchase and proof of legal age at delivery;
- Limit tobacco and vapour product and accessory sales to licensed, age-restricted tobacconists, specialty vape shops and cannabis retail shops respectively;
- The enactment of a tax regime on vapour products and the establishment of product set price minimums to discourage use of all tobacco and vaping products; and,
- An increase to the legal age for the sale and supply of tobacco and vaping products and accessories to 21 years of age.
AND FURTHER that alPHa advise all Ontario Boards of Health to advocate for and support local municipalities to develop bylaws to regulate the retail sale and the use of tobacco and vapour products; AND FURTHER, that the Prime Minister of Canada, the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, the Premier of Ontario and the Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario be so advised. |
Developments on A21-1:
July 20, 2021
alPHa letter sent to the federal and provincial Ministers of Health introducing alPHa Resolution A21-1.
June 23, 2021
Health Canada Notice:
Nicotine Concentration in Vaping Products Regulations(NCVPR)
The final Nicotine Concentration in Vaping Products Regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on June 23, 2021.
Effective July 8, 2021, the NCVPR will:
· establish a maximum nicotine concentration of 20 mg/mL for vaping liquid intended for the Canadian market
· prohibit the packaging and sale of vaping products where the package displays a nicotine concentration that exceeds 20 mg/mL
Note that retailers have until July 23, 2021 to comply with the NCVPR.
June 19, 2021
Proposed Order Amending Schedules 2 and 3 to the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (Flavours) and Standards for Vaping Products’ Sensory Attributes Regulations
The proposed Order and Regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on June 19, 2021. This publication opens a 75-day consultation period that will close on September 2, 2021.
The proposed Order and Regulations would implement a complementary, three-pronged approach to restricting flavoured vaping products. First, it would further restrict the promotion of flavours in vaping products to tobacco, mint, menthol and a combination of mint and menthol (mint/menthol), including through indications or illustrations on packaging. Second, it would prohibit all sugars and sweeteners as well as most flavouring ingredients, with limited exceptions to impart tobacco and mint/menthol flavours. Third, it would prescribe sensory attributes standards to prevent a sensory perception other than one that is typical of tobacco or mint/menthol.
The methodology summary can be found here.
You are invited to share your views and comments on the proposal by email at hc.pregs.sc@canada.ca.
June 8, 2021
Resolution passed by alPHa Membership
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RESOLUTION A17-5, Committing to a Tobacco Endgame in Canada
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THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies write to the federal Minister of Health supporting the federal government’s proposal to commit to a target of less than 5% tobacco use by 2035; AND FURTHER that
the Association of Local Public Health Agencies recommend that the federal government’s approaches include those identified at the 2016 summit, A Tobacco Endgame for Canada;
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Developments on A17-5:
July 24, 2018
alPHa has sent a letter asking the new Minister of Health and Long-Term Care for a commitment to the recently-released Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy, which includes reference to this resolution.
June 5, 2018
alPHa has transmitted a response to Canada's Tobacco Strategy to the federal Minister of Health.
May 31, 2018
The federal Minister of Health has released Canada's Tobacco Strategy
May 3, 2018
The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care has announced the province's first Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy. alPHa has sent a letter of congratulations that includes reference to this resolution.
December 1, 2017
alPHa has written a letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care that supports the modernization of Smoke-Free Ontario by implementing the recommendations contained in the Report of the Executive Steering Committee. It includes this and several other alPHa resolutions related to tobacco as attachments.
October 10, 2017
Ontario has released Smoke-Free Ontario Modernization: Report of the Executive Steering Committee, which
includes advice and recommendations to reduce smoking rates across the province in keeping with the vision of 5% smoking rate by 2035.
July 21, 2017
alPHa has sent separate letters to the federal Minister of Health and Ontario's Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to introduce this resolution. The letter to the Province includes a specific request to consider the alPHa position as work continues on modernizing the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy.
July 17, 2017
Response received from the federal Tobacco Control Directorate to the April 12 alPHa Letter.
April 12, 2017
alPHa has written to the federal Minister of Health to congratulate her on the release of the proposals contained in the "Seizing the Opportunity - The Future of Tobacco Control in Canada", including a specific reference to the target of less than 5% tobacco use by 2035.
Developments on A15-7:
January 20, 2020
The Statement from the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health on Nicotine Vaping in Canada includes a recommendation to provincial and federal authorities to consider raising the legal age for access to both vape and tobacco products to 21.
December 1, 2017
alPHa has written a letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care that supports the modernization of Smoke-Free Ontario by implementing the recommendations contained in the Report of the Executive Steering Committee. It includes this and several other alPHa resolutions related to tobacco as attachments.
October 10, 2017
Ontario has released Smoke-Free Ontario Modernization: Report of the Executive Steering Committee, which
includes advice and recommendations to reduce smoking rates across the province, including a recommendation to increase the age of access to tobacco to 21.
July 17, 2017
Response received from the federal Tobacco Control Directorate to the April 12 alPHa Letter.
April 12, 2017
A letter from the President of the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) has been sent
to the Federal Minister of Health in support of her plan to modernize the federal approach to tobacco control and to introduce the related alPHa position to raise the minimum legal purchase age for tobacco products to 21.
July 30, 2015
alPHa has written a letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care that notifies him
of alPHa's resolution.
Resolution
A14-3 - Designating Provincially and Municipally Funded Multi-Unit Dwellings Smoke-Free
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THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies request the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and its stakeholders:
• to provide for the public health, safety, and welfare
of all Ontario residents by ensuring that new provincially and municipally funded multi-unit dwellings are designated smoke-free; and,
• that any future provincial funding for housing require as a criteria for eligibility, that any
new units be designated as smoke-free.
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Developments on A14-3:
December 1, 2017
alPHa has written a letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care that supports the modernization of Smoke-Free Ontario by implementing the recommendations contained in the Report of the Executive Steering Committee. It includes this and several other alPHa resolutions related to tobacco as attachments.
October 10, 2017
Ontario has released Smoke-Free Ontario Modernization: Report of the Executive Steering Committee, which
includes advice and recommendations to reduce smoking rates across the province, including a strategic direction to increase smoke-free MUDs.
August 27, 2014
alPHa has written a letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care introducing this and five other 2014 Resolutions for his support and action.
September 4, 2014
alPHa has written a letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing introducing this
Resolution for his support and action.
Developments on A13-5:
December 1, 2017
alPHa has written a letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care that supports the modernization of Smoke-Free Ontario by implementing the recommendations contained in the Report of the Executive Steering Committee. It includes this and several other alPHa resolutions related to tobacco as attachments.
April 21,2016
alPHa has sent a letter responding to proposed changes to regulations made under the Smoke-Free
Ontario Act and Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015 that would further restrict the sale / use of e-cigarettes and medical marijuana. The letter urges the Ministry to develop further restrictions to include water pipes, as per alPHa Resolution A13-5
November 11, 2015
alPHa has written to the Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to remind her of this resolution
following the City of Toronto's decision to ban the use of water pipes in enclosed spaces beginning in the spring of 2016.
December 12, 2014
alPHa has written a letter to the Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care in response
to Bill 45, which covers calorie disclosure on menus, flavoured tobacco products and e-cigarettes. alPHa's Resolutions on e-Cigarette (A14-2) and water pipe (A13-5) regulation are attached.
December 2, 2013
Letter written to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care in response to her announcements about strengthening Smoke Free Ontario via
legislative (Bill 131) and regulatory changes.
These include additional enforcement provisions that will allow testing for tobacco in waterpipe preparations. The letter reminds the Minister that our position is to ban the use of waterpipes in enclosed public places altogether.
July 16, 2013
Letter written to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care introducing this Resolution. Please click here to read.
Resolution: A11-11 - Provincial Adoption and Promotion of Smoke-Free Movies to Reduce the Impact of Smoking in Movies on Youth in Ontario
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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.
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Developments on #A11-11:
June 5, 2018
alPHa has transmitted a response to Canada's Tobacco Strategy to the federal Minister of Health. It includes reference to this resolution.
December 1, 2017
alPHa has written a letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care that supports the modernization of Smoke-Free Ontario by implementing the recommendations contained in the Report of the Executive Steering Committee. It includes this and several other alPHa resolutions related to tobacco as attachments.
October 10, 2017
Ontario has released Smoke-Free Ontario Modernization: Report of the Executive Steering Committee, which
includes advice and recommendations to reduce smoking rates across the province, including recommendations that mirror alPHa's smoke-free movies resolution.
August 15, 2015
The Ontario Tobacco Research Unit has published its latest special report, entitled Youth Exposure to Tobacco in Movies in Ontario, Canada: 2004-2014. It examines onscreen tobacco exposure among youth, estimates its impact in terms of new smokers recruited, and estimates tobacco-associated mortality and healthcare costs. It also estimates the positive impact on these outcomes of requiring an 18A rating for films with tobacco imagery.
March 17, 2015
alPHa compiled and transmitted to the Chair of the Ontario Film Review Board (at his request)a binder of selected materials that make a clear case for limiting tobacco imagery in movies as a means to reduce youth uptake. The full binder can be viewed / downloaded here.
March 10, 2015
Charles Gardner (MOH - SMDHU) attended a teleconference meeting between Acting CMOH David Mowat and Bruce Davis (the Chair of the Ontario Film Review Board - OFRB). One of the key matters raised at this meeting was the need for assurance on the strength of the evidence on the link between tobacco imagery in movies and youth smoking commencement. The offer was made to follow up with the provision of a binder of the evidence from alPHa. The CMOH also indicated that he would provide a written opinion on this topic, and would raise this matter within the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.
February 25, 2015
On February 25 2015, a group of MOHs and alPHa Staff met with the Chair of the Ontario Film Review Board to discuss changes to Ontario’s film classification system to include the depiction of tobacco use. A summary of this meeting can be read here.
August 29, 2011
Response received from the Premier. Please click here to read.
August 19, 2011
alPHa has written a letter to the Premier urging action on this Resolution. Please click here to read.
Resolution: A11-3 - Call for Immediate Release of a Comprehensive Tobacco Control Strategy for Ontario
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| 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. |
Developments on #A11-3:
July 24, 2018
alPHa has sent a letter asking the new Minister of Health and Long-Term Care for a commitment to the recently-released Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy.
May 3 2018
The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care has released the province's first Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy. alPHa has transmitted a letter of congratulations.
December 1, 2017
alPHa has written a letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care that supports the modernization of Smoke-Free Ontario by implementing the recommendations contained in the Report of the Executive Steering Committee. It includes this and several other alPHa resolutions related to tobacco as attachments.
October 10, 2017
Ontario has released Smoke-Free Ontario Modernization: Report of the Executive Steering Committee, which
includes advice and recommendations to reduce smoking rates across the province in keeping with the vision of 5% smoking rate by 2035.
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.
Resolution: A10-8 - Contraband Tobacco
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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.
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Developments on #A10-8:
September 2, 2014
the Ministry of Finance has posted for comment until October 20th its draft Raw Leaf Tobacco Oversight in Ontario regulation of the Tobacco Tax Act, accessible at the following location: http://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=16342&language=en
April 21, 2011
Ontario Government announced additional licensing and enforcement measures to enhance controls over contraband tobacco. Please click here to read more.
November 19, 2010
The Premier has responded to the alPHa Letter. Please click here to read.
November 8, 2010
COMOH has written its own response to the TSAG Report
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.
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.
Resolution: A09-2 - Tobacco Advertising and Promotion
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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.
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Developments on #A09-2:
November 26, 2015
alPHa has written a letter to the Federal Minister of Health that links a number of points in her mandate
letter to this and four other alPHa resolutions.
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.
CLOSED RESOLUTIONS
Resolution
A14-2, Regulating the Manufacture, Sale, Promotion, Display, and Use of E-Cigarettes
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THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies request Health Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and its stakeholders to provide for the public health, safety, and welfare of all Ontario residents by: ensuring
manufacturing consistency of e-cigarettes; conducting research on the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes and exposure to second hand vapour; and regulating the promotion, sale and use of e-cigarettes in Ontario.
AND FURTHER
that the Premier of Ontario, the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Ontario Public Health Association, Prime Minister of Canada, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, federal Minister of Health, and Ontario’s Minister of Health and Long-Term
Care be so advised.
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Reason for Closure
Complete Satisfaction of Operative Clause(s).
This resolution was passed at a time when e-cigarettes were a novel technology and all but unregulated. At this time, there are many regulatory schemes in place, both provincially and federally, most of which are in line with alPHa positions that have been communicated in correspondence and endorsements (e.g. promotion, age restrictions, places of use).
Developments on A14-2:
January 20, 2020
The Statement from the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health on Nicotine Vaping in Canada includes
several recommendations to provincial and federal authorities to strengthen regulatory measures aimed at curbing the substantial rise of nicotine vaping among Canadian youth.
December 17, 2019
alPHa has sent a letter to the new federal
Minister of Health congratulating her on her appointment and outlining how alPHa's work aligns with elements of her mandate. This resolution is attached.
March 7, 2019
alPHa has sent a letter that provides feedback on the proposed federal restrictions on vaping product advertising and promotion.
October 22, 2018
Letter co-signed by the President of the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa)
and the Chair of its Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health (COMOH) regarding recent regulatory changes that allow the promotion of vapour products in Ontario.
July 1, 2018
The Government of Ontario has blocked the implementation of Bill 174 until further notice. Related alPHa correspondence can be viewed here and here.
May 24, 2018
Amendments to federal tobacco control legislation contained in Bill S-5 have received Royal Assent. They ban
the sale of vaping products to those under 18 years of age, allows for requiring child-resistant packaging for vaping liquids with nicotine, prohibits the promotion of vaping products that are appealing to youth, restricts the promotion of vaping
products.
December 12 2017
Bill 174 received Royal Assent. Schedule 3 of Bill 174 includes the following amendments to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017,
which will come into force on July 1, 2018.
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act and the Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015 are
repealed and replaced by the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017.
The new Act applies to tobacco products, vapour products and medical cannabis, and to other products and substances that may be prescribed in the regulations.
Some of the provisions of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 are set out below.
It is prohibited to sell or supply tobacco products, vapour products and prescribed products and substances to persons under 19.
Restrictions are placed on the display and promotion of tobacco products, tobacco product accessories, vapour products and prescribed products and substances.
The sale of tobacco products, vapour products and prescribed products and substances is prohibited in certain places. (Some examples: pharmacies, hospitals and schools.)
Prescribed signs in retail stores are required with respect to tobacco products, vapour products and prescribed products and substances.
Tobacco products, vapour products and prescribed products and substances must be packaged in accordance with the regulations.
Restrictions are placed on the sale of flavoured tobacco products and certain flavoured vapour products and prescribed products and substances.
Subject to certain exceptions, vending machines for selling tobacco products, vapour products and prescribed products and substances are prohibited.
The smoking of tobacco or medical cannabis, the use of electronic cigarettes and the consumption of prescribed products and substances is prohibited in a number of places, such as enclosed public places, enclosed workplaces, schools, child care centres, and the reserved seating areas of sporting arenas. This is subject to certain exemptions, such as controlled use areas in long-term care homes, and designated hotels rooms. Obligations are placed on employers and proprietors with respect to the places where the prohibitions apply.
Home health-care workers are protected from the use in their presence of tobacco, medical cannabis, electronic cigarettes and prescribed products and substances.
It is provided that no one shall do any of the following in a motor vehicle:
1. Smoke tobacco or have lighted tobacco while another person who is less than 16 years old is present in the vehicle.
2. Use an electronic cigarette or have an activated electronic cigarette while another person who is less than 16 years old is present in the vehicle.
3. Smoke medical cannabis, have lighted medical cannabis, use an electronic cigarette containing medical cannabis or have an activated electronic cigarette containing medical cannabis.
4. Consume a prescribed product or substance, in a prescribed manner, or have a prescribed product or substance.
Despite the other prohibitions in the Act, the traditional use of tobacco by Indigenous persons is protected.
Enforcement provisions, penalties and regulation-making powers are provided for.
December 1, 2017
alPHa has written a letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care that supports the modernization of Smoke-Free Ontario by implementing the recommendations contained in the Report of the Executive Steering Committee. It includes this and several other alPHa resolutions related to tobacco as attachments.
October 10, 2017
Ontario has released Smoke-Free Ontario Modernization: Report of the Executive Steering Committee,
which includes advice and recommendations to reduce smoking rates across the province, including strategic directions to regulate the sale and use of tobacco alternatives.
April 21, 2016
alPHa has sent a letter responding to proposed
changes to regulations made under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act and Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015 that would further restrict the sale / use of e-cigarettes and medical marijuana. The letter urges the Ministry to develop further restrictions to
include water pipes, as per alPHa Resolution A13-5
April 21, 2015
alPHa Staff presented to the Standing Committee on General Government to support the proposed Electronic Cigarettes Act (one of the schedules in Bill 45, the Making Healthier Choices Act). The transcript is available here and
alPHa’s written submission is here.
December 12, 2015
alPHa has written a letter to the Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
in response to Bill 45, which covers calorie disclosure on menus, flavoured tobacco products and e-cigarettes. alPHa's Resolutions on e-Cigarette (A14-2) and water pipe (A13-5) regulation are attached.
November 24, 2014
Bill 45, the Making Healthier Choices Act, which covers calorie disclosure on menus, flavoured tobacco products and e-cigarettes
was introduced in the Ontario Legislature.
August 27, 2014
alPHa has written a letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care introducing
this and five other 2014 Resolutions for his support and action.
CLOSED Resolution A13-1, Banning the Sale
and Distribution of All Tobacco Products in the Province by the Year 2030
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THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies request the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and its stakeholders to provide for the public health, safety, and welfare of all Ontario citizens by banning the sale and distribution
of all tobacco products in Ontario by 2030, and by continuing to implement the recommendations made by the Smoke-Free Ontario – Scientific Advisory Committee as a means of achieving a tobacco-free Ontario
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Reason for Closure:
September 29, 2017
The alPHa Board has determined that a more recent alPHa Resolution builds upon and preserves the intent: Please see Resolution A17-5, Committing to a Tobacco Endgame in Canada above.
| CLOSED Resolution: 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.
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Reason for Closure
April 26, 2013
The alPHa Board has closed this Resolution, as a more recent alPHa Resolution (A11-3 - Call for Immediate Release of a Comprehensive Tobacco Control Strategy for Ontario) preserves the intent.
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