NLIS 4
December 6, 2004
(Health and Community Services)
 

Government commits to smoke-free province

A complete ban on smoking in all indoor public places and workplaces, including bars and bingo halls, will become a reality, announced Health and Community Services Minister John Ottenheimer today in a ministerial statement to the House of Assembly. 

"The time has come to launch a more aggressive attack against tobacco use in our province � the leading cause of preventable illness and death," said Minister Ottenheimer. "Our government is committed to shutting the last door on second-hand smoke and endorse a smoking ban in bars and bingo halls, the last remaining indoor public smoking places." 

Minister Ottenheimer confirmed government�s intention to proceed with legislation as early as spring 2005 to create a 100 per cent smoke-free environment in all indoor public places and workplaces, following province-wide consultations set to begin this January. The consultations will assist government in determining target dates for implementation and allow individuals and organizations to offer their perspective and provide input on the best approach to achieve our goal. 

"Clearly we are moving forward with a smoking ban and the public consultations will allow individuals and organizations to give us input as to how best to achieve a smoke-free environment," added Minister Ottenheimer. 

Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association President Dr. Andrew Major congratulated the provincial government on moving forward with a total ban on smoking in all public places. "Tobacco is the most significant public health issue facing our population today. Implementing a complete ban on smoking in all public places and workplaces demonstrates government�s commitment to protecting the health of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. The physicians of the province commend Minister Ottenheimer for his leadership on the issue and we look forward to the implementation of 100 per cent smoke-free public and workplaces at the earliest possible date." 

Kevin Coady, Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Alliance for the Control of Tobacco (ACT), is delighted with news of the impending legislation. "ACT and its partners have been anxiously awaiting legislation that will fully protect all people from the devastating effects of second-hand smoke. We are looking forward to working with the Department of Health and Community Services to ensure a speedy implementation of this legislation." 

In Newfoundland and Labrador, 112 deaths will be attributed to the effects of second-hand smoke this year. Annually, second-hand smoke exposure results in an estimated 784 hospitalizations, 8,400 hospital days and $11.9 million expenditures in our health care system. 

As part of a growing trend across the country to move toward a healthier, smoke-free environment, Newfoundland and Labrador is the second province this fall to commit to further smoke-free legislation. Provincial jurisdictions including New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories have adopted provincial smoking bans. 

Media contact: Carolyn Chaplin, Health and Community Services, (709) 729-1377 or (709) 682-5093

A copy of Minister Ottenheimer�s complete ministerial statement follows:

I rise today to address the serious issue of tobacco use in Newfoundland and Labrador, as it continues to be the leading cause of preventable illness and death in our country. 

More than 45,000 people will die prematurely this year in Canada due to tobacco use and at least 1,000 of them will be non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke. This year in our province, 112 deaths will be attributed to the effects of second-hand smoke. This year, second-hand smoke will result in 784 hospitalizations and cost our health care system $11.9 million. 

In 1994, through the Smoke-Free Environment Act, smoking was banned in public places such as day cares, schools, hospitals and recreational facilities. Incremental progress has been made since 1994 to expand our smoke-free spaces to include restaurants, shopping malls and libraries, to name a few. 

A decade later, the time has come to launch a more aggressive attack on the fight against tobacco and preventable illness. This fall, organizations such as the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, Newfoundland Federation of Municipalities, Alliance for the Control of Tobacco and the provincial Cancer Society, have all said the time has come for a smoke-free province. Municipalities including the cities of St. John�s and Mount Pearl and other municipalities in the North East Avalon have also endorsed the move to ban smoking in the last remaining public smoking places - bars and bingo halls. In addition, we have heard from over 120 private citizens in support of a smoke-free province. 

Your government has heard you and has listened. Today, I am announcing our government�s commitment to "Shutting the Last Door on Second-Hand Smoke." Our government is moving forward with a smoking ban in bars and bingo halls and will introduce legislation to create a 100 per cent smoke-free province in all indoor public places and workplaces, as early as spring 2005, following province-wide consultations. Beginning in January, these consultations will allow individuals and organizations to offer their perspective and provide input on the best approach to achieve our goal. Consultations will also assist government in determining target dates for implementation. 

As a result of further smoke-free legislation, we hope to continuously improve the health and wellness of the people in our province, and offer more protection for our hospitality workers who are routinely exposed to the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. 

It is my hope that all members of the house will endorse the leadership government has demonstrated today and work with us toward a healthier, smoke-free Newfoundland and Labrador. 

2004 12 06                         2:10 p.m.