Lead Department: Health Canada
Start Date of the Horizontal Initiative: 2001-2002
End Date of the Horizontal Initiative: 2005-2006 and ongoing
Total Federal Funding Allocation: $560M
(Note: this original allocation has been affected by several cuts since the FTCS began. The reductions went towards funding other departmental and government pririties, i.e., $47M to CEPA; $32.5M held back as part of the Government Advertising Plan; and, $3M, starting in 2005-06, reallocated as part of the Expenditure Review exercise.)

Description

The Federal Tobacco Control Strategy (FCTS) establishes a framework for a comprehensive, fully integrated, and multi-faceted approach to tobacco control.   The FTCS is the federal contribution to the national tobacco control plan endorsed in 1999 by all Ministers of Health. It focuses on four mutually reinforcing components: protection, prevention, cessation and harm reduction, supplemented by effective use of public education campaigns to reach all Canadians.

Shared Outcome(s)

The FTCS has five 10-year objectives (2001-11):

• Reduce smoking prevalence to 20 percent from 25 percent (level in 1999).
• Reduce the number of cigarettes sold by 30 percent.
• Increase retailer compliance regarding youth access to tobacco from 69 percent to 80 percent.
• Reduce the number of people exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in enclosed public places.
• Explore how to mandate changes to tobacco products to reduce health hazards.

Governance Structures

Resources for the implementation of the FTCS were allocated to a number of departments and agencies.   Health Canada (HC) is the lead department in the FTCS and is responsible for regulating the manufacture, sale, labelling and promotion of tobacco products as well as developing, implementing and promoting initiatives that reduce or prevent the negative health impacts associated with smoking.

Partners

• Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC) (formerly the Department of the Solicitor General) - administers contribution funding for monitoring activities in connection with determining levels of contraband tobacco activity.   The Department also provides policy advice and support on smuggling issues.
• Department of Justice - prosecutes smuggling offences, as well as offences concerning unlawful manufacture, distribution and possession of contraband tobacco products.
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) - is responsible for the enforcement of laws in relation to the international movement of tobacco products (including the illicit manufacture, distribution or possession of contraband tobacco products).
• Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) (formerly the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency) - is responsible for ensuring the assessment and collection of tobacco taxes and monitoring tobacco exports.
• Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) (previously part of the former Canada Customs and Revenue Agency) - is responsible for monitoring the impact of tax changes on the illegal international movement of tobacco and the national contraband market.  

Contact

 Dave Semel
(613) 952-3367
dave_semel@hc-sc.gc.ca