ONTARIO'S ACTION PLAN

For Healthy Eating, Active Living

SMOKE-FREE ONTARIO

The Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy

HEALTHY EATING & ACTIVE LIVING CONFERENCE 2006

A summary of the program sessions and a selection of the speakers’ presentations will be posted here in the near future

COMMUNITIES IN ACTION FUND

Creating community level opportunities for physical activity

ACTIVE2010

Increase participation in sport and physical activity strategy

PAUSE TO PLAY

The web guide for kids who want to be active

COMMUNITY USE OF SCHOOLS

Making schools more accessible to their communities. Delivered by the Ministry of Education

NEWS RELEASE

October 16, 2006

 

Ontario Government Presents Marriott International With
Heather Crowe Award For Going Smoke-Free

 

Minister of Health Promotion, Jim Watson, presents the Heather Crowe Award to Marriott International for making all of its hotels 100 per cent smoke-free. Accepting the award on behalf of Marriott is Scott Allison (R), Regional VP of Sales and Marketing for Marriott Hotels of Canada. The presentation took place at the Ottawa Marriott, October 16, 2006. Marriott International, Inc. has made all of its 2,300 hotels and apartments in Canada and the U.S., including 28 properties in Ontario, 100 per cent smoke-free.

OTTAWA – Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson today presented Marriott International with the Heather Crowe Award for making all its 2,300 hotels and apartments in Canada and the U.S., including 28 properties in Ontario, 100 per cent smoke-free.

“I commend Marriott International’s decision. It sends a strong message to the industry and to smokers that a smoke-free environment is a good business environment,” said Watson. “Voluntary business decisions such as these support the McGuinty government’s goal of reducing tobacco consumption in Ontario by 20 per cent before the end of 2007.”

The McGuinty government created the award to honour the leadership and commitment of tobacco control activist Heather Crowe, who fought to improve the health of Ontarians by eliminating second-hand smoke in the workplace and in enclosed public places.

“Creating a smoke-free environment demonstrates a new level of service and care for our guests and associates,” said Scott Allison, Sr. VP Sales and Marketing for Marriott Canada . “Our family of brands is united on this important health issue and we anticipate very positive customer feedback.”

  • The government’s Smoke Free Ontario Act came into effect on May 31, 2006, banning smoking in all workplaces and enclosed public spaces. Smoking kills an average of 16,000 people in Ontario each year. T obacco-related diseases cost the Ontario economy at least $1.7 billion for health care annually, result in more than $2.6 billion in productivity losses, and account for at least 500,000 hospital days each year.

Ontario ’s tobacco consumption has fallen by 18.7 per cent or more than 2.6 billion cigarettes since 2003. During that time, the government has increased its investments in tobacco control six-fold to a total of $60 million, including a $10 million increase in 2006 over the previous year.

 

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For further information:

Adam Grachnik
Minister’s Office
416-326-8497

Julie Rosenberg
Ministry of Health Promotion
416-326-4833

Version française disponible