Regional Cancer Care, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, and the Northwestern Health Unit are proud to support the Ontario Government’s move to ban smoking in all enclosed workplaces and public places in Ontario as of May 31, 2006. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act will protect workers from exposure to second-hand smoke – whether they work in an entertainment venue, in the hospitality sector, in a residential care facility, or as a healthcare worker in a client’s home. The Act will also protect the general public from exposure to second-hand smoke in enclosed public places.

“The Smoke Free Ontario Act will ensure that the Ontario government is taking aggressive steps to address smoking prevention, cessation, and protection,” stated Michael Gravelle, MPP for Thunder Bay – Superior North. “We are confident that this is our best strategy to combat the increases in lung cancer and tobacco related deaths in Ontario.” Bill Mauro, MPP, Thunder Bay – Atikokan, agreed. “Tobacco related diseases are the leading causes of death in Ontario,” he said. “This initiative will provide a strong foundation for a strong and healthy future for the people of our province.”

“I applaud the province’s efforts to help combat cancer across Ontario by preventing youth from starting to smoke, encouraging those who smoke to quit, and reducing people’s exposure to second-hand smoke,” said Michael Power, Vice President, Regional Cancer & Diagnostics. “Tobacco use is the single most important cause of cancer and is responsible for a third of all cancers in Ontario. Twenty-one per cent of people in Northwestern Ontario are daily smokers. In 2006, there will be an estimated 1,206 new cancer cases in our region; an estimated 482 people will die from this disease. The numbers of new cancer cases are expected to grow over the coming years, and it is legislation like the Smoke-Free Ontario Act that makes the difference in cancer prevention.”

In addition to the human toll, there is an economic toll. Tobacco-related diseases cost the Ontario economy at least $1.7 billion for health care annually, with more than $2.6 billion in productivity losses and at least 500,000 hospital days each year.

The Northwest Health Unit and the Thunder Bay District Health Unit have been involved with many initiatives to combat tobacco usage in Northwestern Ontario. They have launched Tobacco Free Thunder Bay, the Smoke Free Bylaw, as well as ongoing programs, information, and services to promote a smoke free region. “After many years of lobbying for a smoke free Thunder Bay and region, all of the efforts of so many dedicated people are beginning to bear fruit,” said Simon Hoad, Area Coordinator, Northwest Tobacco Control Area Network. “We are very encouraged with this strong commitment by the province.”

Tobacco use causes lung cancer, many upper airway (mouth, throat, larynx) and urinary tract (bladder and kidney) cancers, cervical cancer, some cancers of the stomach and pancreas, and acute myeloid leukemia. Second-hand smoke causes lung cancer and nasal sinus cancer. Second-hand smoke is also a risk factor for breast cancer in premenopausal women.

It was second-hand smoke that was one of the incentives for Bob Stewart, local restaurant owner, to become involved in the Smoke Free Bylaw Committee. “Our clientele was essentially split into two groups; those that smoked, and those that didn’t, and you obviously want to cater to both. With everything moving towards smoke free, however, it seemed like the writing was on the wall; public areas, inside and outside, were going smoke free, restaurants were opening completely smoke free, and governments were legislating behaviours around the smoking community. After the initial hue and cry, everyone seems to have accepted and embraced the new legislation.”

“Smoke-Free Ontario will have a greater impact than any other single government policy on reducing new cancer cases,” said Terry Sullivan, CEO of Cancer Care Ontario. “Cancer Care Ontario and its partners will continue to work with the government to fight the causes of cancer.”

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act is part of a comprehensive tobacco control strategy that includes initiatives to prevent children and youth from starting to smoke, help Ontarians quit smoking, and protect Ontarians from exposure to second-hand smoke.

The public may obtain information on the Smoke-Free Ontario Act by calling their local public health department or the Ontario Government's toll-free INFOline at (866) 396-1760 or TTY (800) 387-5559.

Cancer Care Ontario is an umbrella organization that steers and coordinates Ontario’s cancer services and prevention efforts so that fewer people get cancer and patients receive the highest quality of care.

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