Tobacco use is the biggest preventable cause of death and disease in Ontario. It kills 16,000 Ontarians each year. The government is investing in a comprehensive tobacco-control strategy to improve the health of Ontarians.

Find out more about the new Smoke-Free Ontario legislation.

People start smoking for lots of reasons. But it’s nicotine addiction that can make it so hard to quit. The good news is that many people quit every day – and you have it in you to quit too! For help and a plan to quit call:

SMOKERS' HELPLINE at 1 877 513-5333
or visit Smokers’ Helpline Online
for web-based self-help.

You can also check out quitting tips, tools and information by clicking on one of the following links:

| English | Français |

| | | | | Polski | Italiano |

| Português | | | | | | |

| Español | Tagalog | | Magyar | | | Deutsch |

| | | | | |

The Ontario government is protecting the health of all Ontarians by prohibiting smoking in all enclosed workplaces and enclosed public places in Ontario on May 31, 2006. The legislation will also strengthen measures to ensure only those 19 years of age and older can buy cigarettes and will phase out the display of tobacco products, with a complete ban beginning May 31, 2008.

For background information, see the following fact sheets:

• Smoking Trends in Ontario (pdf)
• Health Effects of Smoking (pdf)
• Health Effects of Second-hand Smoke (pdf)
• Point-of-Sale Displays (pdf)
• Cost of Tobacco Use and Tax Revenues (pdf)
• Economic Impact of Smoke-Free Policies (pdf)

Each year, about 90,000 kids in Ontario try smoking. The province is taking steps to prevent young people from smoking through its interactive website: Stupid.ca.

The website informs kids about the dangers of smoking and encourages them to be more involved in tobacco control activities in their communities and schools.