QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario’s Minister of Health Promotion, Margarett Best, needs a reality check, says NDP Health Critic France Gélinas.
Yesterday marked the launch of National Non-Smoking week and the McGuinty government was busy congratulating itself despite the fact the province has seen no decrease in smoking rates since 2005.
“Minister Best’s positive spin cannot erase the reality that funding for the Smoke-Free Ontario program was cut by $17-million in the last year,” said Gélinas.
“With 36 Ontarians dying each day from tobacco-related illnesses, and the cost of this illnesses soaring to $1.7-billion each and every year, you would think that this government would get serious about tobacco prevention and reduction.”
As an example of the government’s lax attitude, Gélinas pointed to her Private Members Bill calling for a ban on individually-sold, candy-flavoured cigarillos. MPPs from all parties passed the bill in late 2008.
“These tobacco products are popular with young people and hook them onto a life-long tobacco habit. This government was given a real opportunity to lower the smoking rate among young people. Yet, more than a year later, the Minister of Health Promotion has failed to enact the law,” noted Gélinas.
“It is puzzling to Ontarians that the Minister responsible for tobacco reduction is happy to pat herself on the back when there has been so little progress in the last year. Instead of smiles and spin, this Ministry needs to commit to action – that would be reason to celebrate.”
