A New Year’s resolution among many of us in our community is to quit smoking. With this in mind, we commend the move by the federal government to encourage smokers to quit through the use of updated, larger health warning messages and offering support through a toll-free quit line. These initiatives are part of a major thrust in the federal government’s latest anti-smoking plan.
The move was announced last month by the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, and Pierre Poilievre, Member of Parliament for Nepean-Carleton.
"The combination of larger health warning messages and social marketing will help the new messages reach as many smokers as possible," Aglukkaq said. "This comprehensive strategy will ensure Canada remains a world leader in tobacco control initiatives."
Chair of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Irfhan Rawji, was supportive of the initiative: "Giving Canadians the straight-up goods on the dangers of tobacco use in a more prominent and visible way through larger, more effective tobacco warning labels is a significant step in our ongoing battle to reduce tobacco consumption and, ultimately, cardiovascular disease," he said. Additionally, "The Foundation commends the federal government for this important step in encouraging Canadians to be smoke-free and live healthier, longer lives."
The Canadian Lung Association was also supportive: "We applaud the Health Minister's commitment to require tougher warning labels on tobacco products," said Heather Borquez, President and CEO. "Strong, graphic health warnings on cigarette packages are a key part of the broad effort needed to keep young people from smoking and encourage existing smokers to quit," she said.
The new labels on packaging show larger graphic health warnings featuring new diseases. Also, for the first time, testimonials from individuals affected by tobacco use are included as part of the anti-smoking thrust. The warnings cover 75 percent of the front and back of cigarette and little cigar packages, an increase of 25 percent usage of the real estate that is available on the packaging. The national quit line and the website connect smokers to support services.
Such support by the federal government to help with the resolution to quit smoking and with tobacco use is welcome. It comes at a good time, especially in the light of the evidence that tobacco use continues to kill 37,000 Canadians every year. Along with this loss of life, there is the additional pain of $4.4 billion a year in direct costs brought on on our health care systems through tobacco use.
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The good news is last year more relatives were reunited with us to begin new lives in Canada.
Last year, Immigration Canada expected to welcome between 240,000 and 265,000 newcomers. The third quarter of 2010 saw Canada's population driven forward by the highest immigration rates seen in four decades, Statistics Canada said.
The influx touched our households here in Ontario, with immigrants making up 70 percent of new arrivals during the third quarter of 2010. Prince Edward Island recorded the highest growth rate, with a 0.7 percent population increase. Quebec also welcomed its highest number of immigrants in the last four decades, with 16,800 new arrivals. Manitoba also saw its 1971 immigration record broken with the arrival of 4,700 new Canadians.
The projection for 2010 was Canada would see the largest number of permanent residents arriving in 50 years, Citizenship and Immigration Canada said last month. This followed the June, 2010 announcement that the doors were being opened to more immigrants, particularly in the economic category. With the post-recession recovery underway, there is growing demand for high level of legal immigration to keep the workforce strong. Last year the Citizenship and Immigration Canada made more decisions, issued more visas and admitted more people to Canada over 2009.
This is good news for many in our community who have been waiting for relatives to join us here in Canada.
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