FOR RELEASE: 21 April, 1998
Ottawa: Bill S-l3, The Tobacco Industry Responsibility Act gained support today from more than 80 organizations representing child welfare experts, health care, and community groups from Victoria, B.C. to Corner Brook, Newfoundland.
Senator Colin Kenny is author and co-sponsor with Senator Pierre Claude Nolin of Bill S-l3. The bill would place a .50 cent levy on all cartons of cigarettes sold, creating a $l20 million dollar fund. The money would be spent on programs aimed at stopping or preventing youth from smoking. Transitional funding would be given in the first five years to arts and sports groups who may lose their tobacco sponsorships and to tobacco farmers who may see a decrease in tobacco sales.
Representatives from five groups told an Ottawa news conference why they supported the bill.
"It will protect kids from tobacco and from the tobacco industry, and that will end up reducing tobacco use by Canadians. The $l20 million fund would provide serious money for tobacco education programs."
- Ron Potter, Past President of the Canadian Cancer Society
"Health Canada’s own figures show that nearly one third of l5 to l9 year olds smoke. Kids today smart smoking at 10 and 11. By l5, they are hooked. Money provided by Bill S-13 can help stop this pattern."
- Jacquelyn Jones, Canadian Institute on Child Health, Environmental Contaminants Program Coordinator
"I don’t want to smoke and I do not want to see any of my friends smoking either. With more money, our anti-smoking committee could look for all the corner stores that sell tobacco to minors or that sell the cheap 3-packs. We could make a difference."
- Lori Daoust, l3 year old youth representative and Chair of the Anti- Smoking Committee at Symmes Junior High School, Hull
"The government knows that 40,000 Canadians die every year from tobacco- related diseases. That is ten times as many that die in traffic accidents. Smoking is the single largest preventable cause of death each year."
- Dr. David Esdaile, Vice-President, Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada
"Let’s give money to Formula One and other arts and sports groups who are going to lose their tobacco sponsorships. Let young people look at Jacques Villeneuve and not see a promotional tool of a tobacco company."
- Mario Bujold, General Director, Quebec Council on Tobacco and Health
Bill S-l3 has passed Second Reading in the Senate and has been referred to the Senate Social Affairs Committee for study.
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Further information:
Jennifer Dent 995-5589
Genevieve Young 947-7869