Reports
Youth Smoking Survey
The results of the latest national Youth Smoking Survey (YSS) indicate that youth are not seeing cigarillos as harmful as cigarettes, supporting the need for impending Bill C-32.
Passed in October 2009, Bill C-32 contained an immediate ban on tobacco advertising in newspapers and magazines. A ban on flavoured cigarettes, little cigars and blunt wraps at the manufacturer/import level followed on April 6, 2010, and by July 5, 2010 these flavoured tobacco products will be banned at the retail level.
The 2008-09 version of the survey, released in conjunction with World No Tobacco Day, found that 9 per cent – 247,504 youth – in grades 6 to 12 smoked cigarillos or little cigars in the last month. Yet new data indicate that 85 per cent of youth who smoked just cigarillos or little cigars considered themselves "non-smokers," versus 33 per cent of who smoked just cigarettes.
Youth Smoking Survey Trends (1994-2009)
Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey
The Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (CTUMS) results for 2008 were released August 13, 2009. The survey found that for 2008 daily smoking (among Canadians 15+) was at 13% (15% male, 12% female) and current smoking was at 18% (20% male, 16% female). (Current smoking is the total of daily smoking added with occasional smoking.) These are the lowest smoking prevalence rates ever reported in Canada. Among the ten provinces, British Columbia had the lowest smoking prevalence, with daily smoking at 10%, and current smoking at 15%.
More information can be found on Health Canada's website:
English: Tobacco Use Statistics
Français: Statistiques sur l'usage du tabac
Smoke-Free Nova Scotia responds to Stagnant Smoking Rate in Nova Scotia
Canadian Community Health Survey
On June 15, 2010 the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) results for 2009 were released. Good news that current smoking prevalence for Canada decreased by 1% from 2008 to 2009. Here are the results, with provincial and territorial breakdowns:
Canadian Community Health Survey (2009)Other Reports
- Tobacco Control Progress 2010 (January-June, 2010)
- Tobacco Use in Canada: Patterns and Trends (2009)
- Lessons from Anti-tobacco Advocacy: Smoke-Free Nova Scotia’s Journey (1993 - 2007)
- The Cost of Tobacco in Nova Scotia (2007)
- Smoking Rates in Nova Scotia (2007)
- The Health and Social Impact of Smoke Free Legislation (2002)
- Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (2007)
- Youth Smoking Survey (2004-2005)
Other Background Information
- Canadian Council for Tobacco Control - What's Hot
- Canadian Cancer Society - Quit Smoking
- The Lung Association of Nova Scotia - Tobacco Intervention
- Non-Smokers' Rights Association
- Ontario Medical Association - OMA position papers
- Tobacco News and Information