Ministerial Advisory Council on Tobacco Control - Annual Report 2003-2004

About Council

MACTC Mandate

The Ministerial Advisory Council on Tobacco Control (MACTC) operates in accordance with the January 2003 Terms of Reference.

The role of the Council is to advise the Minister of Health and the Tobacco Control Programme on strategic issues related to policies, legislation and research required for the effective implementation of the Federal Tobacco Control Strategy. Further, the role of the Council is to provide advice on consultation and public engagement activities to ensure that Health Canada has access to the broadest base of stakeholder involvement possible.

Membership

The MACTC consists of 13 members who bring demonstrated expertise, experience and commitment in tobacco use reduction in Canada.

The Council draws on the diverse expertise from the national/regional anti-tobacco organizations, health professions (e.g. physicians, nurses, dentists), First Nations and Inuit organizations, research institutions, youth, and the social marketing sector. In addition, consideration is given to ethno-cultural diversity, gender, language, and regional representation.

Criteria for Advice and Input

Early in its mandate, MACTC conducted a visioning and strategic planning exercise and established the following criteria to guide which issues require its involvement and input:

1. evaluate if an issue is in accordance with MACTC mandate
2. determine if MACTC is best suited to address the issue
3. consider the impact of the issue on mortality, morbidity and prevalence
4. establish the amenability to change and desired impact
5. provide a high return on MACTC investment of time.

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge those individuals and agencies that contributed to the Council over the year. Your perspectives, insights and information were invaluable contribution to our commitment to dynamic intelligence gathering and information-sharing.

• The Honourable Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Health - Health Canada
• Dr. Marc Busch - Queen's University
• Susan Fletcher, Assistant Deputy Ministry - Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada
• Dr. Pierre-Gerlier Forest - Cameron Chair, Health Canada
• Kathy Langlois - First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada
• Staff - Tobacco Control Programme, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada