News Release
2003-12
March 13, 2003
For immediate release
Minister McLellan appoints new chair and members to the Ministerial Advisory Council
on Tobacco Control
OTTAWA - Minister of Health Anne McLellan announced today, changes to
the Ministerial Advisory Council (MAC) on Tobacco Control.
The mandate of the Ministerial Advisory 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
and to provide advice on consultation and public engagement activities to ensure that Health
Canada has access to broad stakeholder involvement.
"The Advisory Council plays an important role in ensuring that we can meet the targets
of our tobacco control strategy," said Minister McLellan. "The Council's diverse membership
allows me to receive advice from a number of points of view and I am thankful that these
exceptional individuals are giving their time and expertise to help reduce tobacco use
in Canada."
The new Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Council is Dr. Patricia Petryshen, Executive
Vice-President, Programs and Hospital Relations of St-Michael's Hospital.
Apart from the Chair, new members are Ms. Michelle Feltham, a member on Health Canada's
Youth Action Committee, Dr. Prabhat Jha, Canada Research Chair in Health and Development
at the University of Toronto, Dr. Anne Lavack, Associate Professor at the University of
Regina, Ms. Deborah Schwartz, Special Advisor for Aboriginal Health with the Aboriginal
Health Division of the B.C. Ministry of Health, and Mr. Neil E. Collishaw, Research Director
with Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada.
Members being reappointed to the Ministerial Advisory Council on Tobacco Control are Dr.
Mary Jane Ashley, a Professor at the University of Toronto, Dr. José François, Medical
Education Coordinator at the Centre national de formation en santé for the Manitoba
Region, Mr. Robert Froese, President and C.O.O. of the BrainStorm Group, Mr. Les Hagen,
Executive Director of Action on Smoking & Health, Mr. Andrew Hazlewood, Provincial
Director General of Population Health and Wellness for the B.C. Ministry of Health Planning,
Mr. Kenneth Kyle, Director of Public Issues for the Canadian Cancer Society, Ms. Heidi
Rathjen, Campaign Director at the Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control as well as Dr. Elinor
Wilson, Chief Science Officer at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
"I wish to thank the former members for their contribution to the work of the Council," said
Minister McLellan. "Their advice and hard work has been extremely valuable in making our
tobacco control strategy one of the most effective in the world."
Two years ago, the Government of Canada launched the largest federal tobacco control strategy
in Canada's history. The Federal Tobacco Control Strategy includes a combination of tobacco
control efforts including a sustained mass media campaign, as well as protection, prevention,
cessation and harm reduction initiatives.
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Media Inquiries:
Farah Mohamed
Office of Anne McLellan
Minister of Health
(613) 957-1694
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