The Citizen, 2004-12-23, Page 13Protecting your health.
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2004. PAGE 13.
STOPPING THE NUMBER ONE
KILLER IN ONTARIO
Smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke is the number one preventable
killer in Ontario today.
The Government of Ontario has introduced a bill that would make all workplaces
and enclosed public places smoke free.
The government's proposed Smoke-Free Ontario Act would take
effect May 31, 2006.
We all pay for the costs of smoking
About 16,000 people die from smoking-related illnesses
every year in our province, including many who do not
smoke themselves.
Smoking and second-hand smoke have been linked to many
cancers, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. And the list
is growing.
Patients with tobacco-related diseases occupy more than
500,000 hospital days each year - the equivalent of seven
community hospitals.
The cost to Ontario is more than $1.7 billion in healthcare
costs and $2.6 billion in lost productivity annually.
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act
The new legislation is part of the government's comprehensive
anti-tobacco strategy.
The proposed act would:
• ban smoking in all workplaces and enclosed public places,
such as restaurants, bars, casinos, private clubs and
work vehicles
• protect employees who seek enforcement of the workplace
smoking ban from retaliation by employers
• eliminate designated smoking rooms
• limit the sale, distribution and use of tobacco products,
including stricter measures to ensure only those 19 years of
age and older can buy cigarettes.
The proposed act does not extend the smoking ban to private
dwellings, with the exception of licensed private home day care.
Operators of residential care facilities and hotels would have
the option of allowing smoking in these residential settings.
Identifying our programs and partnerships
The government is partnering with many organizations
such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario,
The Lung Association and the Canadian Cancer Society
in a united effort to help create a smoke-free Ontario.
This will include initiatives to help prevent youth from starting
to smoke and help smokers quit, for example, Smokers' Helpline,
1-877-513-5333.
You'll be able to recognize these programs and partnerships
by the new Smoke-Free Ontario logo that will appear in
advertising and promotional materials.
A smoke-free Ontario means a healthier Ontario
For more information:
Call our INFOline at 1-877-234-4343
TTY: 1-800-387-5559
Visit: www.health.gov.on.ca and HealthyOntario.com
(SMOKE
FREE
sONTARIOi
Paid for by the Government of Ontario.