The Government of Canada Announces Project that Reduces Smoking Rates Among Restaurant and Bar Staff

News Release
2010-87
May 31, 2010
For immediate release

FREDERICTON - The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue and the Atlantic Gateway and Member of Parliament for Fredericton, today announced, on behalf of Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, nearly $158,000 in funding to the New Brunswick Lung Association to develop a smoking cessation program for restaurant and bar staff. Since August 2009, Health Canada has invested over $6.3 million in new funding to support a variety of tobacco initiatives and activities across Canada. This is in addition to support for other on-going projects aimed at reducing tobacco use among Canadians.

"The Government of Canada remains committed to protecting all Canadians from the proven health hazards associated with tobacco use," said Minister Aglukkaq. "Today's funding is a step towards ensuring Canadians receive the help they need to quit smoking."

Funding from today's announcement will enable the New Brunswick Lung Association to work in partnership with the Lung Associations of Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, the New Brunswick Community College, the Atlantic Provinces Restaurant Association, the New Brunswick Anti-Tobacco Coalition and the Canadian Cancer Society to design and develop a smoking cessation program for hospitality industry students and restaurant and bar staff.

"I applaud the efforts of the New Brunswick Lung Association and their many partners to develop an innovative program to help the restaurant and bar industries address high smoking rates," said Minister Ashfield. "It is expected that about 800 people across the Atlantic Provinces will benefit from this program."

This train-the-trainer style toolkit and cessation program will enable managers and instructors to deliver a smoking cessation program for hospitality industry students and restaurant and bar staff. The long-term goal is to reduce smoking rates through a workplace program, particularly for the young adult population, since many restaurant and bar staff are in this age range.

"We are very pleased to be able to develop a smoking cessation program for managers and staff of bars and restaurants with support from Health Canada," said Barb Mackinnon, President and CEO of the New Brunswick Lung Association. "This industry has the highest smoking rates nation-wide. Working with our many partners we will put in place a cessation program to help the many employees interested in quitting."

World No Tobacco Day (May 31) is a World Health Organization initiative that draws global attention to the prevalence of tobacco use and to its negative health effects. This year's theme, "Gender and tobacco with an emphasis on marketing to women," aims to create awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco marketing aimed at women and girls.

In addition to other target populations, the Government of Canada continues to reach out to pregnant women about the dangers of tobacco use and second-hand smoke. When a pregnant woman smokes, the fetus gets less oxygen and nutrients. Studies show that regular exposure to second-hand smoke may harm both the mother and the baby. It is encouraging that fewer Canadian women smoke when pregnant, but those who do smoke place themselves and their babies at increased risk.

Tobacco use is the single biggest cause of preventable disease, disability and premature death in Canada. It has negative effects on nearly every organ of the body. Every year, at least 37,000 Canadians die from the effects of smoking, while many others are diagnosed with related illnesses such as heart disease, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. For more information on Health Canada's tobacco control efforts, please visit: www.gosmokefree.gc.ca.

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Media Enquiries:
Josee Bellemare
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Federal Minister of Health
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