News Release

2007-106
August 20, 2007
For immediate release

Canada's New Government Announces New Goals for Smoking Rates

OTTAWA - The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, announced today that the renewed Federal Tobacco Control Strategy will aim to reduce Canada's overall smoking prevalence from 19 per cent (2006) to 12 per cent by 2011.

"Reaching a 12 per cent smoking rate is a very ambitious goal, but it is by no means unrealistic," said Minister Clement.  "Seeing the great progress we have made over the past few years, I am confident that by putting our renewed Federal Tobacco Control Strategy into action, we can achieve this goal."

As a result, Health Canada has set a new prevalence goal and objectives for the next four years (April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2011).

In addition to reducing the overall prevalence rate, the renewed Federal Tobacco Control Strategy also aims by 2011 to:

• Reduce the prevalence of Canadian youth (15-17) who smoke from 15 per cent - 9 per cent;
• Increase the number of adult Canadians who quit smoking by 1.5 million; and
• Reduce the prevalence of Canadians exposed daily to second-hand smoke from 28 per cent to 20 per cent.

Canada's New Government will also focus on improving tobacco control regulations and policy; supporting international efforts for the widespread implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; and continuing to work with other federal departments and agencies to monitor contraband tobacco activities and enhance compliance.

Approximately five million Canadians continue to smoke.  Every year, 37,000 Canadians die from tobacco use.  Economically, smoking costs Canada over $17 billion annually, including $4.4 billion in direct health-care costs.

For more information on Health Canada's tobacco control efforts, please visit www.gosmokefree.ca.

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Media Enquiries:
Joey Rathwell      
Health Canada
(613) 946-4250

Erik Waddell
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200

Public Enquiries:
(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709