Tobacco Control Programme

Progress towards reducing tobacco consumption in Canada has been greater than anticipated. Most of the original Federal Tobacco Control Strategy (FTCS) objectives have already been met within less than the prescribed 10-year time frame. As a result, Health Canada has set a new prevalence goal and objectives for the remainder of the Strategy's tenure (April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2011).

The new goal of the Federal Tobacco Control Strategy is to reduce overall smoking prevalence from 19% (2006) to 12% (by 2011). The new objectives are to:

• Reduce the prevalence of Canadian youth (15-17) who smoke from 15% - 9%;
• Increase the number of adult Canadians who quit smoking by 1.5 million;
• Reduce the prevalence of Canadians exposed daily to second-hand smoke from 28% to 20%;
• Examine the next generation of tobacco control policy in Canada;
• Contribute to the global implementation of the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; and
• Monitor and assess contraband tobacco activities and enhance compliance.

Health Canada's Tobacco Control Programme consists of the following offices:

• Six Regional Offices
• Office of Policy and Strategic Planning
• Office of Regulations and Compliance
• Office of Research, Surveillance and Evaluation
• Management Services

Regional Offices

The six regional offices of the Tobacco Control Programme are responsible for:

• monitoring compliance with the sales-to-youth prohibition;
• monitoring compliance with tobacco labelling regulations;
• enforcing restrictions on tobacco promotions;
• educating the public, and in particular regulated industry sectors, on the act and regulations;
• the management of the regional contribution funding for Prevention, Cessation and Education, in order to:
  • help reduce the number of Canadian youth who take up smoking;
  • disseminate timely and comprehensive best practices information on tobacco control; and
  • to build the knowledge and capacity of organizations and individuals, including youth; and
  • collaborating with provincial and territorial governments on tobacco control strategies, including mass media activities.

Office of Policy and Strategic Planning

The Office of Policy and Strategic Planning, in collaboration with all Tobacco Control Progamme offices, develops and assesses policies, strategies and frameworks directed at reducing tobacco use in Canada. The Office also participates in international referenda and in the development of treaties which promote international cooperation in tobacco control. Finally, the Office assumes responsibility for ensuring Canada's obligations are met with respect to the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Within the Office, various initiatives play into Health Canada's positioning on tobacco control. In order to optimize the efforts of analysts who study and advise upon issues surrounding tobacco use, partnerships are established and consultations pursued with stakeholders, advocacy and advisory groups, other levels of government, and experts from around the world. As well, comprehensive evaluations of the TCP's activities are carried out on an ongoing basis. By these means, the TCP's Office of Policy and Strategic Planning ensures the development of tobacco control policies and strategies which are informed, robust and forward thinking.

Office of Regulations and Compliance

The Office of Regulations and Compliance administers the Tobacco Act, which regulates the manufacture, sale, labelling and promotion of tobacco products in order to protect Canadians, especially young people, from the health consequences of tobacco use. The Office also leads the activities carried out by the tobacco inspectors across the country.

Activities include:

• Developing regulations under the Tobacco Act and evaluating their effectiveness
• Monitoring industry compliance with the Tobacco Act and Regulations

Office of Research, Evaluation and Surveillance

The Office of Research, Evaluation and Surveillance surveys, monitors and analyzes tobacco use, its impacts upon the health of Canadians, knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of Canadians, the economics of tobacco and tobacco smoke chemistry. In addition, the Office directs research on biomarkers of tobacco use and toxicology of tobacco.

Major activities include:

• Surveillance through the Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey and the Youth Smoking Survey
• Evaluating the Health Warning Messages
• Monitoring tobacco sales data
• Conducting research on estimating exposure to tobacco smoke

For more information, consult the Tobacco section of this site.