Health Committee on June 20th, 2011

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

I think Mr. Proulx ended where I want to start. The objective eventually is to ensure that jobs in the tobacco industry will decrease over time. When you think that 35,000 to 37,000 people a year die from using this particular drug, nicotine, and from using all of the byproducts that come in a cigarette, we don't want this to be a burgeoning industry at all. We don't want it to grow and we don't want people to smoke. That's the bottom line here.

The issue I wanted to ask about is the big question we heard from Mr. Haslam. It was about how long it would take him to do this and his assertion that he wouldn't be able to do it in this period of time. You said that technical changes such as the colour processing were made to facilitate implementation and printing of packages by manufacturers, so obviously you gave thought to the ability to implement in this timeline. I still do not accept that the industry cannot meet this deadline. If it had to outsource it, I think it would be worth outsourcing four to eight jobs to get other companies in Brazil that have done this before to do it. As I said before, you and I agree that this is an industry we want to see end.

This is something that you probably don't want to answer, but as you know, Australia has plain packaging. When I was at the Canadian Medical Association, many of us were looking at the issue of plain packaging as one of the recommendations. Has anyone given any thought to plain packaging?

I know that the Canadian Medical Association has been looking at this for a long time and has recommended it to health committees in the past. Have you given any thought to plain packaging?

[Cathy A. Sabiston]

Canada's move forward with 75% is a very important first step. Clearly the Government of Australia has announced that their plain-packaging initiative is going ahead. Plain packaging, as you know, removes all colours and all branding from tobacco packaging.

Recent Canadian labelling research by Créatec in 2009, which was done for Health Canada, suggests that much of what could be accomplished by increasing the visual attention towards health warning messages through plain or generic packaging could be accomplished by requiring a larger health warning message. You will remember that part of the report Rob Cunningham quoted tested health warning messages at 100%.

Canada will closely monitor the Australian experience. We're hoping that they will evaluate their effectiveness and give us the evidence, the research that we would need for us to consider that as a viable option.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

I wanted to comment on Ms. Davies' question about a new technology. It's called a cigarette case. People used it a long time ago. People would buy their cigarettes and put them in a cigarette case, so they would need never be reminded by warnings on the package anyway.

I think people will do what they will do, but ensuring that the messaging is there when people buy it off the shelf is extremely important.

I don't have any further questions, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Thank you, Dr. Fry.

We'll now go to Mr. Strahl.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Thank you.

Labelling is obviously a key component. I think Dr. Fry has indicated that the committee and most Canadians want to see this industry shrink. They want to see fewer smokers. How does this fit into some of the other things? I've noted that in the previous discussions around this issue last December there was talk about an integrated approach, about how this was just a part of an overall Health Canada strategy to reduce the number of people starting to smoke and to help people who do smoke to quit.

Could you expand on what the other measures are, in addition to the labelling? We've heard about social media and mass media. What are we doing through Health Canada, in addition to this labelling, to reduce the number of smokers?

[Hilary Geller]

Thank you very much for that question.

I'm pleased to be able to point to a number of initiatives that have taken place under the federal tobacco control strategy that have been successful in part. There have been other initiatives, all of which have played a part in reducing prevalence rates from approximately 25% when the strategy came into place to approximately 18% now.

The most recent example was the legislation that Parliament passed to protect youth by banning flavours and additives in little cigars. We are already starting to see the positive impact of that.

Tobacco product advertising is limited to an adult audience and specifically limited to publications provided by mail to a named adult or on signs in places where young persons are not permitted by law.

There are extensive second-hand smoke bans in this country. Canada introduced workplace second-hand smoke regulations in 1987. All provinces and territories have since followed suit. As of 2009, 93% of all Canadians are now working in places with complete restrictions on smoking.

The compliance rates for youths being unable to purchase tobacco products have soared over this period of time. Close to 85% of retailers are now refusing to sell cigarettes to underage Canadians, according to our latest surveys.

Finally, on health warning messages themselves, all the evaluations show that health warning messages are one of the most effective tools we can use. They've been in place in Canada for over 10 years now.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC]

I have another question with regard to the new regulations. Today I was speaking to someone who had the package in his pocket. It wasn't a rectangular box; it had several angles on it to increase the number of visible panels. Do these regulations address those creative methods that might be used to try to circumvent these rules?

[Hilary Geller]

Yes. Standard packaging is something that we have looked at and are looking at. Nothing in these regulations specifically deals with standard packaging.

Louis, do you want to add to that?

[Louis Proulx]

One of the reasons the document you have before you is so voluminous is that we tried to make sure that the most basic packs are addressed through this particular regulation, so that if modifications need to occur, there are provisions in the regulations that allow for slight modifications to make this fit on packs.

As you can imagine, there are packs that we probably haven't imagined yet, and that could happen in the next four years. They can be modified, but to a very limited extent, to make sure that nothing is covered and that all the messages are there, on 75% of the front and back--so, yes, we have made provisions for these oddly shaped packs.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Thank you, Mr. Strahl.

Now, with the permission of the committee, I would like to ask if the committee is ready to adopt the regulations without amendment.

Go ahead, Ms. Davies.

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Actually, could it be something fairly fast? If so, then maybe we have time for one more question.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

I think we are actually running out of time, and I need to read it in both....

We only have about seven minutes, with your indulgence, if that's okay.

Is that okay with you, Ms. Davies?

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I just don't know how long it's going to take to do the next part.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Well, I'm going to try the second part in French, so it might take some time. Are you ready to stay for the evening?

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Sure.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Okay.

Can we go ahead with this, then? You won't fall down laughing?

If I say anything bad, just let me know privately.

All right. This is it:

That, pursuant to the Order of Reference of Thursday, June 9, 2011, the Committee, having considered the Proposed Tobacco Regulations, report these regulations without amendment.

In French, it reads as follows:

Que, conformément à l'ordre de renvoi du jeudi 9 juin 2011, le Comité, ayant étudié le Projet de règlement sur le tabac, en fasse rapport, et ce, sans amendement.

There we go, both in English and in French.

Would it be the will of the committee to accept this motion?

I'm sorry, I need a mover.

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I so move.

[Patrick Brown, Conservative, Barrie, ON]

I second the motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

All in favour?

I'm sorry, Ms. Davies.

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I just have a question. When it says “report it to the House”, how quickly will that happen? I ask because we do want to make sure this goes through.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

That is a very good question.

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I anticipate that the House may rise on Thursday. It's without amendment; we obviously want to have approval in the House, because otherwise this is going to be for naught.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Once we pass this motion, the clerk tells me they'll have everything ready by Wednesday at three o'clock. I will report it to the House, with the consent of the committee.