Speech for the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, New health warnings now on cigarette and little cigar packages across Canada

June 19, 2012
Ottawa, Ontario

Check Against Delivery

Good morning,

Thank you for joining me today as we take another important step in the fight against smoking. And a special thank you to Bobbe Wood, President of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, for joining us today.

For many years, our government and partners have been working to promote an anti-smoking agenda and help Canadians in their fight against smoking.

Today, I'm proud to tell you that smoking is at an all-time low in Canada and our country remains a world leader in tobacco control.

In December 2010, our Government made a promise to Canadians.

We promised to introduce tough new health warnings for cigarettes and little cigars.

I'm pleased to tell you that we are fulfilling that promise.

From this day forward, these two tobacco products will display new and much larger health warnings messages. These warnings also include a Canada-wide, toll-free quitline number and a web address where smokers can learn more about the benefits of quitting. They are a good resource for people who are ready to kick the habit.   

A transition period was established to give tobacco retailers time to comply with the new health labelling requirements.

That transition period is over.

As of today, retailers must only sell cigarette and little cigar packages that display the larger health warning messages.  If they fail to do so, they could be subject to removal of products or prosecutions.

As mentioned, we have made great strides in the area of tobacco control over the past decade and I am humbled by our success. With current smokers at 17% and daily smokers at 13%, smoking rates in Canada are at an historic low.

But there is still work to be done in this journey towards better health.

Smoking rates among Aboriginals are about three times higher than that of other Canadians.  That's why the Harper Government will focus funding to support smoking prevention and cessation efforts in Aboriginal communities. 

Going forward, we'll be launching a marketing, awareness and outreach campaign focused on cessation for young adult smokers.  We will continue to support tobacco-related projects that align with chronic disease initiatives, such as the National Lung Health Framework.

More than 37,000 Canadians still die every year because of tobacco use but tobacco-related deaths can be prevented.

Today's announcement is another step forward in the fight against tobacco. It is a significant step and one that gives me confidence that we're moving in the right direction.

We will continue to work in partnerships, in particular with the provinces and territories who are increasing efforts on tobacco control.

I thank all of you all for joining me and being part of this important conversation.    

Thank you.