Report to the Conference of the Parties on the Implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

 

Part V: Program and Plans

Development and implementation of comprehensive multisectoral tobacco control strategies, plans and programmes

1. New Directions for Tobacco Control in Canada: A National Strategy

Within Canada tobacco control is the shared responsibility of federal and provincial/territorial governments. In order to coordinate activities among all interested stakeholders (federal and provincial/territorial governments and non-governmental organizations), a comprehensive and integrated national strategy to reduce tobacco use in Canada was adopted by both the federal and provincial/territorial ministers of health in 1999.

The National Strategy (see Appendix 6-E-3) for tobacco control is based on a population health approach and addresses a range of factors that determine health such as social, economic and physical environments, personal health practices, individual capacity and coping skills, and health services. The strategy is intended to affect the entire population and create opportunities for the integration of tobacco issues within population health initiatives. The National Strategy is a collaborative agreement between federal and provincial/territorial governments as well as non-governmental organizations and serves as an umbrella strategy.

The four goals are:

• Prevention: Preventing tobacco use among young people.
• Cessation: Persuading and helping smokers to stop using tobacco products.
• Protection: Protecting Canadians by eliminating exposure to second-hand smoke.
• Denormalization: Educating Canadians about the marketing strategies and tactics of the tobacco industry and the effects the industry's products have on the health of Canadians in order that social attitudes are consistent with the hazardous, addictive nature of tobacco industry products.

Progress Reports on the National Strategy are produced annually (see Appendix 6-E-3 for recent copies of the National Strategy and Progress Reports) and made available to the Canadian public. These can also be viewed at http://hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/pubs/tobac-tabac/index_e.html