September 25, 1998
To:Board of Health
From:Dr. Sheela V. Basrur, Medical Officer of Health
Subject:Proposed Federal Tobacco Legislation: The Tobacco Industry Responsibility Act
(Bill S-13)
Purpose:
The purpose of this report is to request Board of Health endorsement of a proposed federal
government initiative designed to reduce smoking among youth.
Source of Funds:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
(1)That the Board of Health endorse Bill S-13, The Tobacco Industry Responsibility Act and
express its support to Senator Colin Kenny, sponsor of the Bill, the Prime Minister, the
Minister of Health, the Minister of Finance, all members of Parliament for the Greater
Toronto Area (GTA), and all members of the Commons Standing Committee on Health;
(2)That the Medical Officer of Health submit a brief on the proposed Federal Tobacco
Legislation (Bill S-13) on behalf of the Toronto Board of Health to the Standing Committee
on Health; and,
(3)That the Board of Health forward this report and its recommendations to all Boards of
Health in Ontario, recommending that they support The Tobacco Industry Responsibility Act.
Background:
Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in Canada, resulting in
approximately 40,000 lives lost annually. It has been estimated that smoking costs Canadian
taxpayers over $10 billion a year, with $3 billion in direct health care costs and the remainder
due to such indirect expenses as lost productivity. The social costs are immeasurable.
Current smoking levels among youth are particularly troubling. According to the latest studies
conducted by the Addiction Research Foundation, a division of the new Center for Addiction
and Mental Health, the prevalence of smoking decreases with age. Among young adults 18 to
34 years, 30% report that they are smokers. Given that 90% of adult smokers begin to smoke
in adolescence, initiatives designed to prevent tobacco use among youth have the greatest
potential to reduce the staggering cost of tobacco-related diseases.
In addition, there is evidence that, in contrast to a significant decline from 1965 to 1990,
smoking rates in Ontario have been on the increase since 1994. While this increase likely
reflects a number of factors, one critical factor is the marked reduction in the price of
cigarettes around 1994, particularly within the price sensitive youth market.
The Tobacco Industry Responsibility Act -- Proposed Federal Legislation
Senator Colin Kenny, a member of the Senate from Ontario, has been concerned that the
federal government's response to smoking rates has been inadequate to address the magnitude
of the problem. Only about $20 million a year for a five year period has been allocated to
public education and youth programs by the federal government, despite the fact that federal
tobacco taxes amount to approximately $2 billion annually. This is a mere $1 for anti-tobacco
initiatives for every $1,000 collected in tobacco taxes.
Recognizing that a significant allocation of financial resources for increased prevention
programming is necessary, Senator Kenny has sponsored and guided through the Senate a
measure designed to have an impact on smoking among Canadian youth. Bill S-13, The
Tobacco Industry Responsibility Act, passed third reading in June 1998 and will proceed as a
Private Member's bill to the House of Commons. It received unanimous all-party support in
the Senate and is on the order paper for first reading in the House of Commons where it will
be referred to the Standing Committee on Health early in this session of Parliament.
The Tobacco Industry Responsibility Act would introduce a 50 cent levy on each carton of
cigarettes, creating an annual fund of about $120 million. This money would be earmarked for
education, cessation and smoking prevention for youth, and would be administered through an
arm's length organization, the Canadian Anti-Smoking Youth Foundation. The Foundation
will also maintain a central inventory of "what works" and create a national media campaign.
The majority of these funds will be distributed to community groups and organizations across
the country to develop local programs. Toronto Public Health would be well positioned to
apply for some of the funds.
There is evidence that Senator Kenny's proposal could be an effective strategy in the overall
campaign to reduce smoking. Since California's Proposition 99 applied a twenty-five cent tax
to every package of cigarettes a few years ago, and used this money for inventive smoking
prevention initiatives, adult smoking in that state has declined significantly. Youth smoking in
California, which has been on the rise everywhere else in North America, has stabilized.
California currently has a youth smoking rate of 11% and spends $4 per capita on youth
smoking prevention. Canada currently spends 33 cents per capita for such programs and
records a youth smoking rate of almost 30%.
Bill S-13 has received support from a wide variety of organizations across Canada. A national
survey conducted by Environics Research Group for the Canadian Cancer Society indicated
that two-thirds of Canadians are strongly or somewhat supportive of the bill.
Conclusion:
Bill S-13, The Tobacco Industry Responsibility Act, would create a fund of approximately
$120 million annually exclusively directed to programs at the national, regional and local
level with emphasis on education and smoking prevention for youth. This proposed bill has
received widespread support across the country and was passed unanimously by the Senate.
Endorsement by the Toronto Board of Health would send a strong message to the federal
government that the magnitude of the tobacco problem requires a comprehensive approach
from all levels of government to effectively reduce smoking among youth.
Contact Names:
Carol Timmings
Regional Director, Scarborough/East York Office
Toronto Public Health
Tel: 392-1355
Fax: 392-0713
Denise DePape
Manager of Substance Abuse Prevention, North York Office
Toronto Public Health
Tel: 395-7675
Fax: 395-7691
Dr. Sheela V. Basrur
Medical Officer of Health
