Canada Unveils Two Plans to Tackle Tobacco Harms
Tobacco remains a significant preventable cause of death in Canada, with approximately 46,000 people dying from tobacco-related illnesses every year. For this reason, we remain steadfast in our objective of less than 5% tobacco use among Canadians by 2035. We urge Canadians who smoke to consider quitting. We know that quitting smoking can be difficult, but it is possible and will benefits your health for many years.
Today, the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced that the new Tobacco Charges Regulations, will establish a Tobacco Cost Recovery Framework. We are delivering on one of our key commitments to shift the cost of tobacco use to tobacco companies. This framework is ensuring that these companies, rather than taxpayers, pay to fund our public health effort to curb tobacco use. It will also make clear that companies are accountable for their actions.
In addition, eight projects will receive nearly $12 million in funding from the Substance Use and Addictions Program. These projects will deliver education, social supports, research and smoking cessation initiatives in communities across the country.
The measures announced today are another step in meeting the goals set out in Canada’s Tobacco Strategy. We will continue to work with partners, stakeholders, and other orders of government to protect Canadians from the harms caused by tobacco use.
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2025/03/government-of-canada-announces-two-initiatives-to-combat-tobacco-related-harms.html