Regarding tobacco control, I'd like to begin by expressing support and congratulations for two very important measures that have been brought forward: Bill C-32 on flavoured tobacco and the new, enhanced picture warnings for cigarette packages. Both of these measures show world leadership. The Minister of Health, all political parties, and members of this committee deserve praise and thanks.
For this committee's current study on healthy living, and as part of achieving broader healthy living objectives, I simply want to underline the ongoing crucial importance of tobacco control.
Tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of disease and death in Canada.
Le tabac tue. Tobacco kills 37,000 each year.
We've made clear progress in reducing smoking, but an enormous amount of work remains to be done. Fully 18% of Canadians and 13% of youth aged 15 to 19 were current smokers in 2009.
The 10-year-old tobacco control strategy announced in 2001 expires very soon, March 31, 2011. It is essential that this strategy be continued. We need, as always, an approach to tobacco control that is comprehensive in nature. Within Health Canada's comprehensive strategy, the programming component is vital. The minister has referred to $15.7 million in funded cessation, youth prevention, and other initiatives. These should continue; we cannot let up. And new initiatives must be pursued, such as the very commendable social media campaign that will be linked to package warnings. Ensuring that the federal strategy is continued without any gap would ensure that the preparatory work for the social media campaign as well as many other initiatives would be carried out in full without interruption.
Given high aboriginal smoking rates, including 59% for first nations individuals on reserves, additional aboriginal initiatives of course are needed.
In closing, tobacco control remains pivotal for what we will achieve in the years ahead in terms of overall healthy living for Canadians.
Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today.