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By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

trying to get below 5%

Experts express hope for smokeless Canada as country marks National Non-Smoking Week

Jan 21, 2025 | 4:54 PM

National Non-Smoking Week is underway, and above all, it aims to underscore the cold, hard fact that 46,000 Canadians are dying from smoking-related causes each year.

As the observance happens Jan. 19-25, and beyond, the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health (CCMOH) continues to be concerned specifically, it says, about the troublingly high rates of nicotine vaping among Canadian youth.

Last August, the Government of Canada introduced a ministerial order requiring certain nicotine products, including pouches, be sold only behind the counter in pharmacies, along with other restrictions.

This was an important step, the CCMOH notes, but it didn’t address nicotine vaping products.

“Population level risks of nicotine vaping for youth and those who do not smoke are a primary concern and should be a key focus in regulatory action,” the council says.

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“Therefore, the main goal for the regulatory approach to nicotine vaping products should be reducing the access to, and appeal of, these products among young people. This should entail strategies such as strengthened restrictions on marketing, limiting flavoured products to tobacco flavour only, preventing underage youth access via online purchases, and increased penalties and stronger enforcement for sales to minors and of flavoured products.”

The council adds that messaging should continue focusing on approved and evidence-based smoking cessation methods, including greater emphasis on unassisted cessation.

“Nicotine vaping product manufacturers should be encouraged to submit their products for review and possible approval as smoking cessation aids,” they say.

Meantime, the president and CEO of Imperial Tobacco Canada, Frank Silva, says his company has sent an open letter to politicians and health groups appealing for a coordinated and joint effort by those aforementioned parties as well as the private sector.

Silva says the goal is to reduce smoking rates to below five per cent, and to make Canada a smoke-free nation.

At this stage, it’s noted, 12 per cent of Canadians still smoke.

“I know that some of you view the tobacco and nicotine industry’s involvement to reduce smoking with skepticism,” Silva says. “Only together can we design solutions that protect youth, support smokers in their journey to quit or switch to a less harmful alternative and tackle the contraband market head-on.”

Asked by rdnewsNOW what’s in it for the tobacco industry if his stated goals are achieved, he says in Imperial’s case, they are still creating new products, backed by science, that provide adult smokers with less harmful alternatives.

Silva concludes, saying it is alarming that many people mistakenly believe that smokeless alternatives, such as vaping, or nicotine pouches, are just as harmful as nicotine.

“This shift is not just necessary; it’s the right thing to do. We believe in driving this change because a smoke-free future is better for everyone,” he says, noting a goal of being a predominantly smokeless business by 2035.

“This requires robust education campaigns, stricter penalties for those who sell to minors and an increased number of inspectors to ensure compliance. We also need to crack down on illegal nicotine products.”

Imperial is urging a focus on three points to decrease smoking rates: a) stopping youth from using nicotine products, b) eliminating contraband nicotine products, and c) empowering smokers to quit or seek less harmful alternatives.

Silva says strategies undertaken in nations like Sweden can help Canada get where it wants to go.

Alberta Health Services regularly offers a program called QuitCore, which is a free group support initiative for Albertans 18+. More information is here.