The Province will make it harder for those who want to light up and smoke outside. Starting January 1, 2015 there will be new measures to keep smoker’s at bay.
“If we prevent youth from taking up smoking in the first place, that will mean fewer smokers and healthier Ontarians. We need to do everything we can to prevent all Ontarians from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke,” said Dipika Damerla, Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.
These changes to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act are part of the government’s plan to limit smoking in public places, reduce exposure to smoking and make it more difficult for young people to buy tobacco.
“We applaud the government of Ontario for introducing these courageous new tobacco control measures that send a clear message that we need to continue to work together against the number one cause of preventable disease, death and cancer in this province,” said Rowena Pinto, Vice-President, Public Affairs and Strategic Initiatives, Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division.
Starting January 1, 2015, it will be illegal to:
- Smoke on bar and restaurant patios
- Smoke on playgrounds and public sports fields and surfaces
- Sell tobacco on university and college campuses.
These changes to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act are part of the government’s plan to limit smoking in public places, reduce exposure to smoking and make it more difficult for young people to buy tobacco.
Promoting a smoke-free Ontario is part of the government’s four-part economic plan to build Ontario up by investing in people’s talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives, and building a secure savings plan so everyone can afford to retire.
Quick Facts
- Preventing youth from starting to use tobacco and protecting them from the harmful effects of smoke supports Ontario’s goal to have the lowest smoking rate in the country.
- Each year, tobacco claims 13,000 lives in Ontario — equivalent to 36 lives every day.
- Tobacco-related disease costs Ontario’s health care system an estimated $2.2 billion in direct health care costs and an additional $5.3 billion in indirect costs such as lost productivity.
- Ontario’s smoking rate fell from 24.5 per cent in 2000 to 18.1 percent in 2013, representing 332,361 fewer smokers.
