THE FUTURE OF TOBACCO CONTROL IN ONTARIO

PRESENTATION TO COMMUNITY MEDICINE RESIDENTS/

MOHS/AMOHS

October 25, 2002

Michael PerleyDirector

Ontario Campaign For Action On Tobacco

Session Learning Objectives At the end of this session, participants should be able to:

• Discuss Ontario's experience in developing and gaining adoption of provincial legislation and regulations, and municipal by-laws governing tobacco use.

• Discuss further opportunities that might pursued to strengthen Ontario's tobacco-use legislation, regulations, and by-laws.

• Discuss the challenges faced in Ontario to facilitate the enactment of effective tobacco-use legislation, regulation, and by-laws.

• Discuss tobacco control initiatives implemented in jurisdictions outside of Ontario (e.g., California) and their potential applicability to Ontario.

THE FRAMEWORK

• Tobacco Control Act

• Smoking in the Workplace Act

• Municipal Act/Municipal By-laws

• Occupational Health and Safety Act

• WSIB

EXPERIENCES AND CHALLENGES

• PROVINCIAL: Political/ideological inertia; anti-regulatory/red tape agenda; presence of tobacco industry and allies; tax revenue

• MUNICIPAL: Jurisdictional argument; economics; rights and freedoms; alternatives (ventilation, DSRs, proprietors’ choice); exceptions and exemptions (bingo, Legions, patios, etc.)

A COMPREHENSIVE TOBACCO CONTROL PROGRAM

• California experience (heart disease and lung cancer reductions)

• CDC

• Witmer Expert Panel

• OTS Steering Committee Report

THE FUTURE

• Critical mass of local by-laws

• Making the cost argument

• Continuing exposure of industry

• Involvement of non-health sector advocates