The Smoke-Free Ontario Act
The Ottawa Council on Smoking or Health applauds the Province of Ontario for passing the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. The law came into effect on May 31, 2006 and prohibits smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces in Ontario. The Ontario Medical Association's Position Paper, The Duty to Protect: Eliminating Second-Hand Smoke from Public Places and Work Places in Ontario, clearly outlines the need for a provincial smoke-free law.
The final phase of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act came into force on May 31, 2008 with a ban on the display of tobacco products in retail establishments. This ban will protect children from the lure of flashy tobacco product colours and logos, thereby reducing the likelihood that a child will start to smoke and become addicted to nicotine.
The Province of Ontario amended the Smoke-Free Ontario Act by prohibiting smoking in motor vehicles with passengers under the age of 16. This law came into effect on January 21, 2009.
In 2013, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario studied two bills to amend the Smoke-Free Ontario Act:
Read the OCSH's recommendations for strengthening Bill 130 and Bill 131.
Unfortunately, both bills died on the Order Paper due to the provincial election in October 2014.
Following the election, in November 2014, Hon. MPP Dipika Damerla introduced Bill 45, Making Healthier Choices Act, 2015, to amend the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. Schedule 2 of the bill sought to ban flavoured tobacco, including menthol, to protect youth. Schedule 3 sought to regulate the sale, display, and promotion of electronic cigarettes, and the use of electronic cigarettes in public places and work places.
Read the OCSH's letter in support of Bill 45.
The government of Ontario passed Bill 45 on May 26, 2015, but has not yet announced when the regulations will come into effect. Read the government of Ontario's news release regarding flavoured tobacco and electronic cigarettes.
The government of Ontario also amended the Smoke-Free Ontario Act by adopting new tobacco control regulations. As of January 1, 2015, it is illegal to:
The final phase of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act came into force on May 31, 2008 with a ban on the display of tobacco products in retail establishments. This ban will protect children from the lure of flashy tobacco product colours and logos, thereby reducing the likelihood that a child will start to smoke and become addicted to nicotine.
The Province of Ontario amended the Smoke-Free Ontario Act by prohibiting smoking in motor vehicles with passengers under the age of 16. This law came into effect on January 21, 2009.
In 2013, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario studied two bills to amend the Smoke-Free Ontario Act:
- Bill 130 (Prohibiting Flavoured Tobacco, New Tobacco Products and Smokeless Tobacco, 2013)
- Bill 131 (Youth Smoking Prevention Act, 2013).
Read the OCSH's recommendations for strengthening Bill 130 and Bill 131.
Unfortunately, both bills died on the Order Paper due to the provincial election in October 2014.
Following the election, in November 2014, Hon. MPP Dipika Damerla introduced Bill 45, Making Healthier Choices Act, 2015, to amend the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. Schedule 2 of the bill sought to ban flavoured tobacco, including menthol, to protect youth. Schedule 3 sought to regulate the sale, display, and promotion of electronic cigarettes, and the use of electronic cigarettes in public places and work places.
Read the OCSH's letter in support of Bill 45.
The government of Ontario passed Bill 45 on May 26, 2015, but has not yet announced when the regulations will come into effect. Read the government of Ontario's news release regarding flavoured tobacco and electronic cigarettes.
The government of Ontario also amended the Smoke-Free Ontario Act by adopting new tobacco control regulations. As of January 1, 2015, it is illegal to:
- Smoke on or around children's playgrounds and sports fields.
- Smoke on restaurant and bar patios.
- Sell tobacco on college and university campuses.
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