Key Advocacy Campaigns

The OCSH advocated for the following municipal, provincial and federal tobacco control laws:

• February 7, 2018: The Ontario government releases the Standard Lease, allowing landlords and tenants to agree on a smoke-free policy. The Standard Lease comes into effect on April 30, 2018.

 

• December 12, 2017: The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 received Royal Assent. It replaces the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2006 and the Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 will regulate the sale, supply, use, display, and promotion of tobacco and vapour products (e.g., e-cigarettes, including heat-not-burn devices, and e-cigarette accessories), and the smoking and vaping of medical cannabis.
  

 

• April 5, 2017: The Government of Canada amended the Tobacco Act to ban menthol flavouring in cigarettes, blunt wraps, and most cigars. Unfortunately, the ban does not apply to all tobacco products, including roll-your-own tobacco, cigars weighing less than 6 grams, smokeless tobacco, waterpipe tobacco, and pipe tobacco.

 

• August 31, 2016: The City of Ottawa passed a bylaw to prohibit waterpipe smoking inside and outside all public places and workplaces as of December 1, 2016.

 

• January 2016: The Province of Ontario adopted new regulations under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act to prohibit smoking on all hospital properties as of January 1, 2018. 

 

• May 28, 2015: The Province of Ontario passed the Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015, prohibiting the sale or supply of electronic cigarettes to youth under 19 years of age. This law came into effect on January 1, 2016. Read more about the Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015. Unfortunately, the regulation banning the use of electronic cigarettes inside all public places and workplaces has not yet come into effect.

 

• May 28, 2015: The Province of Ontario amended the Smoke-Free Ontario Act to prohibit the sale of flavoured tobacco products.

 

• March 13, 2015: The City of Ottawa adopted a policy prohibiting the use of electronic cigarettes on city property, including on OC Transpo buses and properties, in city parks, and on outdoor municipal properties.

 

• January 1, 2015: The Province of Ontario amended the Smoke-Free Ontario Act to prohibit smoking on restaurant and bar patios.

 

• June 27, 2012: The City of Ottawa passed a bylaw prohibiting the smoking of waterpipes and non-tobacco products on outdoor municipal property, including parks, beaches and facilities. On June 21, 2012 the Community and Protective Services Committee of Ottawa City Council recommending prohibiting the smoking of waterpipes and non-  tobacco products on outdoor municipal property.  

 

• February 22, 2012: The City of Ottawa passed a bylaw prohibiting smoking in outdoor public places and workplaces, including: restaurant and bar patios; municipal parks, sports fields, and beaches; the Byward Market and the Parkdale Market; and festivals and events held on municipal property. On February 15, 2012, the Community and Protective Services Committee of Ottawa City Council recommended adopting a smoke-free bylaw for outdoor public places and workplaces.

 

• September 22, 2011: The Government of Canada passed the Tobacco Products Labelling Regulations, requiring new graphic health warnings for cigarettes and little cigars.

 

• June 4, 2009: The Government of Canada amended the Tobacco Act to prohibit flavoured cigarettes and cigarillos and to prohib tobacco advertising in all Canadian magazines and newspapers geared to youth.

 

• June 16, 2008: The Province of Ontario amended the Smoke-Free Ontario Act to prohibit smoking in cars when children under 16 years of age are present.

 

• May 31, 2008: The Province of Ontario amended the Smoke-Free Ontario Act to prohibit the display of tobacco products (i.e. power walls) as part of the "Out of Sight-Out of Mind" campaign. Read more about the display ban.

 

• November 1, 2007: The City of Ottawa prohibits prohibits tobacco smoking on all OC Transpo stations and bus stops.

 

• June 2005: The Province of Ontario passed the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, prohibiting smoking inside all public places and workplaces as of June 2006. Read more about the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. 

 

• May 9, 2001: The City of Ottawa passed a bylaw prohibiting smoking inside all public places and a bylaw prohibiting smoking inside all workplaces. The 100% smoke-free bylaws came into effect on August 31, 2001.        

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