New Brunswick needs comprehensive tobacco control strategy: NDP

TRACADIE-SHEILA – New Democrat MLAs will champion the creation of a truly comprehensive tobacco control startegy for New Brunswick, NDP Leader Roger Duguay announced today.

“Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death in New Brunswick,” Mr. Duguay said, “so reducing smoking is critical to the sustainability of our health care system. New Brunswick is behind most other provinces in terms of taking the steps needed to reduce smoking among children and adults, but NDP MLAs will work to make sure we jump to the head of the pack.”

According to health groups like the Canadian Cancer Society, raising cigarette taxes is one of the most effective ways for a province to reduce its smoking rate. New Brunswick now has the second lowest cigarette tax rate in Canada, about ten cents per cigarette lower than the other Maritime provinces. The NDP tobacco control plan proposes to raise cigarette taxes by 2.5 cents per year over four years, bringing the tax rate into line with Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island by the fourth year. When fully implemented, this will raise approximately $55 million in revenue and, over time, reduce tobacco consumption by approximately 10%.

Other tobacco control strategies the NDP will champion include:

• Legislating plain packaging of tobacco products, as recommended by international tobacco control guidelines to reduce tobacco industry marketing to kids;

• Tobacco retail reform to better enforce the law against selling tobacco to kids;

• A contraband prevention strategy, along the lines recommended by the Canadian Cancer Society and other health groups, to reduce the availability of illegal contraband tobacco;

• Expanding the Smoke-Free Places Act to include outdoor locations where people gather, particularly places where children gather like parks and playgrounds;

• When the deficit is eliminated and resources allow, expanding smoking cessation services.