JUDY INTRODUCES BILL TO STOP BIG TOBACCO'S PLAN TO LURE YOUNG SMOKERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 26, 2009

NEW DEMOCRAT BILL TO STOP PLAN TO LURE YOUNG SMOKERS

OTTAWA – Today New Democrat Health critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North) introduced a bill to close loopholes in the Tobacco Act by tightening requirements on labelling, packaging and the sale of flavoured tobacco products.

“Appletini; cosmo; wild berry; tangerine are flavoured cigarillos and ‘chew’ – they’re tasty, they’re cheap and they’re toxic,” says Wasylycia-Leis. “We can’t delay getting them off the market any longer. Tens of thousands of new young people have been lured into smoking while the government considers acting. This bill provides a way forward.”

Wasylycia-Leis first introduced her bill in the spring of 2008, but it died with the federal election call. It’s now been more than six months since Stephen Harper promised Canadians he would bring in legislation against these products, if he was re-elected. No legislation has yet appeared.

In introducing the revival of her bill, Wasylycia-Leis was joined by dozens of young anti-smoking activists who came to Ottawa to lend their support.

“Youth reaction to my bill has been overwhelmingly supportive and continues to grow,” said Wasylycia-Leis. “They know that most of the sales from 50,000 in 2001 to more than 80 million has been at the expense of their friends and other youth across the country.”

Wasylycia-Leis’ bill also has the support of the Canadian Coalition for Action on Tobacco, a national coalition of health organizations that includes Action on Smoking and Health, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Council for Tobacco Control, the Canadian Lung Association, the Coalition Québécoise pour le Contrôle du Tabac, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the Non-Smokers' Rights Association, the Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco and Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada.

-30-

Additional Resources:

Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada: Put an End to Tobacco Industry Gimmics
"Flavour...Gone!" - become a supporter and sign the petition
Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey: Tobacco Use Statistics

Media Links:

CBC News: MP takes 2nd shot to restrict flavoured tobacco products
Winnipeg Free Press: Wasylycia-Leis pushing Tories to ban flavoured cigarellos
Canwest News: NDP table bill against flavoured tobacco