May 11, 1999
(Health and Community Services)

The following statement was issued today by Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health and Community Services. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

Today, we begin the implementation of the first phase of a commitment we made earlier this year when we announced the formation of the Provincial Tobacco Reduction Coalition. I'm happy to see some of the coalition members in attendance today.

The Tobacco Reduction Coalition includes representatives of: the Canadian Cancer Society Newfoundland and Labrador Division; the Newfoundland and Labrador Lung Association; the Heart and Stroke Foundation Newfoundland and Labrador; the Newfoundland and Labrador Pharmaceutical Association; the Newfoundland and Labrador Health and Community Services Association; the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association; the Department of Education; the Department of Government Services and Lands and the Department of Health and Community Services.

This is the first action we are taking under the Tobacco Reduction Strategy and in due course the Minister of Justice will announce measures which government will take in terms of legal action against tobacco companies.

Today we will introduce legislation to amend the Tobacco Control Act for the licensing of wholesale and retail vendors of tobacco products. Unfortunately, access to tobacco products by youth continues to be a problem in spite of the current Tobacco Control Act which forbids selling or giving tobacco to those under 19 years of age.

With the new amendment, all tobacco vendors will be required to have a licence to sell tobacco. The licence will be free of charge as this is not meant to penalize responsible vendors but to deter those who are selling tobacco to our youth.

If a vendor breaks the law by selling tobacco to a youth under 19 years of age, the licence can be suspended. The suspensions can be enforced by inspectors with the Government Services Centre which makes implementation of this change more efficient and effective. Additionally, since the places where cigarettes are sold are routinely visited by inspectors for other purposes incorporating this action will be easily achieved.

It will reduce the burden on the Provincial Courts since it is an administrative action rather than a court action. This action can happen in a more timely manner since it does not require scheduling on a busy court docket. Equally important, the youth will no longer be required to take part in the court process as a witness.

The penalties for a violation range from a first offence when the licence is suspended for two months up to a third violation when the licence can be canceled. In the event that a vendor continues to sell tobacco without a licence the vendor can be charged and subjected to a fine ranging from $500 to $20,000 with each subsequent offence.

The coalition has been busy during the last few months and will soon announce the appointment of a program manager. Details of program plans are anticipated in the next few weeks and will include public education initiatives which support this amendment particularly in the area of public support for reducing access to tobacco by youth. This morning the coalition members met to discuss some of the education initiatives including the development of mandatory signage to be posted by vendors and information for youth which will explain the role tobacco advertising plays in their decision to smoke.

Our actions today are supportive of the provincial Strategic Social Plan and follow our direction of prevention and early intervention as we seek to educate our youth about the dangers of smoking and we send a clear message to vendors who sell tobacco products. It is not illegal for youth to buy tobacco products but it is illegal for vendors to sell tobacco to youth under 19 years of age.

We are not making criminals of our children. Instead, we are demanding that vendors act responsibly when they sell a product which can have a devastating impact on the youth of this province. It is the number one cause of preventable illness such as cancer and heart and lung diseases. It robs society of productive members and families of their loved ones.

In conclusion, I would like to acknowledge all members of the Newfoundland and Labrador Tobacco Reduction Coalition for their efforts and support. I encourage all of our citizens to also help in this effort. According to the recent Student Drug Use Survey youth continue to smoke at an alarming rate (One in five are daily smokers). We know that easy access to tobacco contributes to this problem. Youth tell us that it is easy to get cigarettes, sometimes they buy them singly or by the package from a retailer, sometimes they buy illegal cigarettes and sometimes others buy cigarettes for them. If we are going to prevent children from taking up tobacco use we must all work together, the government, the community, parents and families.

We are proud to take this step for the health and future of the children of our province.

1999 05 11 2:15 p.m.