"I am happy that now all Ontario Citizens will enjoy the same health benefits as residents of Ottawa" said Ellen Holmes, President of the Ottawa Council on Smoking and Health.

Tobacco is the single most important cause of disease in Ontario. According to Cancer Care Ontario’s (CCO’s) Tobacco or Health report, it is estimated that between the years 1994 and 1998 approximately 62,000 Ontarians died from diseases directly attributable to smoking. It is responsible for approximately one-third of all cancers, and causes lung, mouth, throat, larynx, bladder, kidney and pancreas cancers. Sixteen per cent of all ischaemic heart disease deaths, and 76 per cent of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease deaths in Ontario are caused by smoking. While cigarettes are the dominant hazard, other uses of tobacco, including cigars, pipes, smokeless tobacco and environmental tobacco smoke are also sources of significant disease and death.

Today’s announcement commits to the key priorities put forward by member organizations of the Ontario Tobacco Strategy. "It is encouraging to see action towards our immediate priority calling for a comprehensive tobacco control strategy," said Dr. Terry Sullivan, vice-president of cancer control and research at CCO and chair of the Ontario Tobacco Strategy Steering Committee.