Today marks the start of National Non-Smoking week, an annual opportunity to educate people across Canada about the benefits of a smoke-free life and promote tools and supports that can help people quit smoking or make a plan to quit.
While quitting smoking is one of the best things people who smoke can do for their health, quitting can be difficult and may take multiple attempts. By combining supports and tools, people who smoke have a better chance at making quitting possible. These could include seeking support such as a quit coach or using approved nicotine replacement therapies like gums, patches and lozenges, medication, or other less harmful sources of nicotine. Moreover, evidence suggests that while vaping products are not harmless, vaping exposes people who smoke to lower levels of harmful chemicals than continuing to smoke.
We are committed to doing our part to help. That's why in 2018, through the launch of Canada's Tobacco Strategy, our government committed $330 million over 5 years to help people in Canada quit smoking and protect the health of young people and those who do not smoke from the harms of tobacco. We will continue this important work with a federal investment of $66 million annually. These investments support progress towards our target of less than 5% tobacco use in Canada by 2035.
Our government is also proposing to update the health-related labels on tobacco product packaging and display text health warnings on individual cigarettes. This work is ongoing and part of continued efforts to enhance public awareness, particularly among young persons, of the health hazards of tobacco use.
We will continue our work to prevent young people and those who do not smoke from developing an addiction to nicotine and provide Canadians with important and timely health information on tobacco use.
Quitting smoking can take more than one try, but it is possible. If you need support, please take advantage of the pan-Canadian quit line by visiting Gosmokefree.gc.ca/quit or calling 1-866-366-3667, toll-free. And remember - you are not alone.
The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P.
The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, P.C., M.P.
