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.