Report also finds that three quarters of deaths as a result of tobacco use between 2002 and 2012 occurred in people aged 65 or older
October 16, 2017 – Ottawa, ON – Health Canada
Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of disease and premature death in Canada. Despite declines in tobacco use over the past several decades, there are still millions of Canadians who use tobacco. The Government of Canada is taking action to reduce tobacco use in Canada.
A new report released today by the Conference Board of Canada, and funded by Health Canada, offers more evidence that tobacco use is a significant burden on all Canadians, costing society $16.2 billion in 2012, or $466 for every Canadian. This includes costs associated with direct health care, fire, policing, research and prevention as well as lost productivity due to disability and premature death. Most importantly, behind this dollar figure are more than 45,000 deaths in 2012, which represents 18% of all deaths in Canada that year. This means 125 Canadians died because of tobacco use every day in 2012.
The information provided in The Costs of Tobacco Use in Canada, 2012 report provides further evidence that more action is needed to reduce tobacco use in Canada. To that end, the Government of Canada introduced Bill S-5, the proposed Tobacco and Vaping Products Act and is modernizing the current Federal Tobacco Control Strategy. Bill S-5 balances the need to protect youth and non-users from the harms of vaping product use, including nicotine addiction, while allowing adults, particularly adult smokers, to legally access vaping products as a less harmful alternative to tobacco. In addition to its commitments relating to vaping and plain packaging, the Government of Canada has taken action to ban the use of menthol flavouring in cigarettes, blunt wraps, and most cigars.
The Government of Canada’s commitment to charting a new course in tobacco control is a component of the Vision for a Healthy Canada, which focuses on healthy eating, healthy living and a healthy mind. Some initiatives supporting this Vision include revisions to Canada’s food guide, a ban on partially hydrogenated oils (the main source of industrially produced trans fats in Canadian food), and immunizations and vaccine awareness initiatives, among others.
Quotes
“The costs of tobacco use in Canada are significant, and will continue to rise if we do not take new measures and sustain our collective commitment to tackle this issue. Aggressive action is needed, which is why we are moving forward with Bill S-5 and modernizing the current Federal Tobacco Control Strategy. I look forward to continuing our work with the provinces, territories, Indigenous communities and all Canadians to achieve this goal.”
The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Health
“Cigarette smoking is still the leading cause of premature death in Canada, killing half of all long-term users. Tobacco control is a public health priority that requires focused efforts to prevent youth from starting to smoke and to help current smokers quit.”
Dr. Theresa Tam
Chief Public Health Officer
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