2017
September 14, 2017 Canadian health groups respond to Philip Morris International’s $1 Billion Research Fund.
August 15, 2017 PSC and the Quebec Coalition on Tobacco Control call for an end to the low-tobacco tax policy and the regulation of cigarette pricing.
July 11 2017 PSC calls on Minister Philpott to respond to inadequate warnings on new heat-not-burn products .
2016
October 18, 2016 A leaked document from Imperial Tobacco shows how the Canadian Convenience Stores Association and its affiliate were used as front groups to block health regulations and tobacco taxes
May 31, 2016 Public consultations open on plain and standardized packaging.
April 29, 2016 Federal Health Minister proposes a ban on menthol in tobacco products. Hurray!
January 18, 2016 The Minister of Health, the Hon. Jane Philpott, affirms that Canada will move forward with plain packaging. We are delighted.
2015
June 25, 2015 Canadian Coalition for Action on Tobacco urges Health Minister Rona Ambrose to ban menthol in cigarettes.
May 29, 2015 On World No Tobacco Day, Canadian health groups call for a modernized and strengthened federal approach to reducing smoking.
March 12, 2015 PSC urges BC government to strengthen its tobacco control policies. (Open letter).
January 19, 2015 PSC urges government to replace e-cigarette black market with one directed at health goals
2014
January 6, 2014 We are concerned that Vancouver’s cigarette recycling program, while well-intentioned, is a step in the wrong direction. (Statement)
2012
August 16, 2012 Australia court ruling on plain packaging shows the benefit of standing up to tobacco industry bullying
February 22, 2012 PSC congratulates the City of Ottawa for making patios, parks, beaches an municipal grounds smoke-free.
February 1, 2012. PSC congratulates Health Canada’s seizure of illegal flavoured tobacco products.
January 17, 2012. On National Non Smoking Week, PSC joins a cross Canada call for federal action against the sale of tobacco products that are sold in youth-friendly candy flavours and without warnings.
2011
October 20, 2011 Alberta becomes first Canadian government to divest of direct ownership of tobacco companies. PSC calls for others to protect pension funds from being invested in tobacco stocks.
September 6, 2011 PSC calls on the federal government to strengthen its control on cigarette additives in response to last week’s report by the World Trade Organization regarding menthol and clove cigarettes.
April 7, 2011 Canadian health groups today praised the Australian health minister, Nicola Roxon, for introducing legislation that will require plain packaging of cigarettes sold in Australia and will increase the size of health warnings to over 75% of the front and 90% of the back of the package.
March 8, 2011 Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada today welcomes the introduction of a private member’s bill to strengthen the 2009 “Cracking Down on Tobacco Marketing Aimed at Youth Act.” Halifax MP Megan Leslie’s Bill C-631amends the Tobacco Act by banning flavours in smokeless tobacco and by closing a loophole that has allowed the sale of flavoured cigarillos to continue.
February 18, 2011 PSC welcomes Ottawa’s move to enlarge tobacco warnings and curb tobacco package marketing
January 19, 2011 Survey results show that school-aged Canadians recruited into tobacco addiction are more likely to smoke brand-name cigarettes than contraband.
January 17, 2011 After reviewing the shareholdings of Canadian institutional investors in the world’s largest tobacco companies, Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada (PSC) is recommending a review of public and private investment policies that permit these investments.
2010
December 30, 2010 Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada today welcomed the announcement by the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq of forthcoming new regulations on cigarette labelling.
November 10, 2010 The Global Tobacco Control Forum releases its ‘shadow report’ on Canada’s implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and calls for Canada to do more to protect the treaty from tobacco industry interference and to provide more funding to support the treaty’s work.
August 19, 2010 Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada releases a report on smoking in movies: Tobacco Vector: How American movies, Canadian film subsidies and provincial rating practices will kill 43,000 Canadian teens alive today — and what Canadian governments can do about it.
August 12, 2010 Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada and Centro de Investigacion para la epidemia de tabaquismo release a legal analysis by Todd Weiler which exposes Philip Morris’ claims against Uruguay’s new tobacco packaging law to be without merit.
May 31, 2010 On World No Tobacco Day (May 31st), Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada (PSC) is calling for Canadian provincial and federal health Ministries to reinvigorate their tobacco reduction campaigns.
May 28, 2010 On the eve of World No Tobacco Day (May 31st), Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada (PSC) is renewing its call for Canada’s mandatory public pension plans to stop funding multinational tobacco companies.
May 26, 2010 On the week leading up to World No Tobacco Day, Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada is calling on the government of British Columbia and Manitoba to bring their public health laws up to the standards of other Canadian provinces and to ban the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies.
May 25, 2010 PSC calls for for Canadian provincial and municipal governments to move quickly to ban smoking on restaurant patios and other hospitality venues.
April 29, 2010 Australia announces cigarettes will be sold in plain packages by January 2012. PSC and the Non-Smokers’ Rights Association call for Canada to do likewise.
April 12, 2010 Gates Foundation pulls funding from Canadian government development agency over concerns about conflict of interest.
February 16, 2010 Federal government continues to subsidize tobacco farming after spending $300 million to phase it out. Physicians group is looking for answers from Minister Gerry Ritz.
2009
September 29, 2009 Suing big tobacco should be about health, not just health care costs Physicians group calls for clear health goals to be included in litigation strategies.
September 17,2009 Canada’s major health organizations are calling on the Senate of Canada to give priority to the passage of Bill C-32 (Cracking Down on Tobacco Marketing Aimed at Youth Act). The legislation would stop tobacco companies from using fruit, candy and other flavourings in cigarettes and cigarillos and would ban tobacco ads in publications that can be viewed by youth.
June 17, 2009 The Canadian Senate should speed up its passage of bill C-32, and send a clear message to the U.S. tobacco giant, “Philip Morris” to butt-out of Canadian health law.
May 26, 2009 Stronger Tobacco Law Welcomed. Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada today applauded the introduction of legislation to close loopholes in the existing Tobacco Act that have allowed tobacco companies to sell candy-flavoured cigarillos to Canadian kids.
April 24, 2009. Women deserve to be warned! PSC urges Health Canada to move quickly to put breast cancer warning on cigarette packages, and offers some examples of how it could be done.
April 3, 2009. Canada urged to follow Norway’s lead. Following Norway’s decision to exclude tobacco stocks from its public investment fund, Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada ( renewed its call on the Canada Pension Plan and its governing body, provincial and federal Ministers of Finance, to stop using Canada Pension Plan contributions to support the global activities of tobacco companies.
January 15, 2009. Health over Profits: A call on 3 provincial governments in western Canada to ban tobacco sales in pharmacies. Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada today called on the Governments of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba to introduce legislation to abolish the sales of tobacco in pharmacies.
January 14, 2009 Canada’s Doctors Remind Prime Minister of his Campaign Promise. The Canadian Medical Association and Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada reminded Prime Minister Harper today that he promised to crack down on the marketing of flavoured tobacco products, like cigarillos, that are aimed at children.
2008
December 15, 2008 Action on Election Promise Urgently Needed Health Groups Call on Prime Minister to Curb Tobacco Marketing
December 10, 2008 Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada (PSC) today welcomed the announcement by B.C. MLA, Adrian Dix, that he plans to introduce a private member’s bill to clamp down on the marketing of kid-friendly tobacco products.
December 5, 2008 Ontario Bans Flavoured Cigarillos
November 7, 2008 Canada falls short of its tobacco treaty commitments, reports the Global Tobacco Control Forum.
November 3, 2008 Nunavut-style leadership needed on First Nations tobacco issues. Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada today welcomed Leona Aglukkaq, from Gjoa Haven, Nunavut as Canada’s new Minister of Health.
September 17, 2008 Health Groups Welcome Measures to Protect Children from Tobacco Marketing.
September 10, 2008. PSC calls on Auditor General to investigate bad deal with big tobacco.
August 30, 2008. Many brands of cigarettes have failed ‘fire-safe’ tests.
July 31, 2008. Physicians plea for better approach than corporate plea bargain.
July 29, 2008 Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada responds to government proposals to end the single sale of cigarillos.
July 24, 2008 Youth from Northwestern Ontario’s Youth Action Alliance (NWYAA) announced today the launch of Flavour…Gone! a youth-led campaign for changes to the federal Tobacco Act.
June 16, 2008 Canadian Coalition for Action on Tobacco welcomes proposed legislation to curb the marketing of novelty tobacco products.
April 9, 2008 PSC points to new consumer protection legislation as an example of stronger measures that are needed for tobacco.
March 5, 2008 PSC applauds Quebec government proposed regulation on tobacco advertising — and wonders why more isn’t being done by other levels of government.
2007
February 19, 2007 PSC looks at data on cigarillo smoking and discovers that Canadian kids are as likely to be trying cigarillos as cigarettes. Not surprisingly — these products are sold in candy-flavours without healtn warnings and cost little more than a candy bar.
December 03, 2007 Japan Tobacco launches the first tobacco advertising campaign since the Supreme Court decision upheld the Tobacco Act by promoting a cigarette with ‘less smell’. PSC calls on Health Canada to clamp down on this misleading promotion (and to move forward with strengthening amendments to the law).
November 22, 2007 Doctors group says its time to close cigarillo-friendly loopholes in tobacco laws. A new Quebec government survey shows that cigarillos have become more popular than cigarettes among Quebec teenagers and are undermining progress against smoking among youth.
October 29, 2007 PSC releases a policy paper which outlines the benefits of including first nations in the global treaty process. press release paper
August 21, 2007 PSC welcomes the announcement by Canada’s Minister of Health, the Honourable Tony Clement, of a new goal for reducing smoking: 12% prevalence by 2011.
August 2, 2007 Responding to tobacco industry research showing that 16% of Canadian smokers are buying their cigarettes on the black market, Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada today renewed its call for government action against the growing problem of contraband tobacco sales.
July 31, 2007 July 31 is the deadline for tobacco companies to implement their voluntary agreement to remove ‘light’ and ‘mild’ from their cigarette packages. PSC has reviewed their new packaging and is calling for tougher measures based in law.
June 28, 2007 PSC welcomes Minister Clement’s commitment to monitor and respond to tobacco industry marketing.
June 27, 2007 Smoking Ban in Federal Prisons a healthy step forward. PSC applauds the decision by Corrections Canada to ban indoor and outdoor smoking in federal prisons.
June 25, 2007 PSC calls for new legislation on tobacco advertising — whatever the Supreme Court decision. Press release and backgrounder.
April 11, 2007 Tobacco industry sponsorship mars Quebec business award. PSC calls on Royal Bank and other businesses to withdraw from co-sponsorship with tobacco companies.
March 6, 2007 Physician group welcomes British Columbia legislation. Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada (PSC) today congratulated British Columbia for introducing proposals to strengthen its tobacco laws.
February 19, 2007 PSC praises British Columbia for its continued legal leadership against tobacco companies. Only BC is suggesting that the Supreme Court should not give tobacco advertising the same protection that it gives to other forms of speech. Find out why this is a good thing: Press release.
February 16, 2007 PSC makes tobacco industry, government and intervenor arguments for Supreme Court hearing on constitutional challenge to the Tobacco Act available here.
February 2, 2007 PSC calls on big banks to stop helping criminals sell contraband cigarettes and asks them to use their role as members of the board of directors of VISA Canada to stop the VISA credit system from being used to help criminals sell illegal cigarettes. Press release
January 24, 2007 PSC releases of a film about the life and campaign of Heather Crowe.
2006
December 18, 2006 PSC proposes methods to reduce tobacco smuggling. Our analysis shows that cigarette smuggling is a growing threat to Canadian health, and that the losses to the federal treasury more than offset the costs of restoring control over the tobacco market. To address this problem, we proposeg reforms to the way cigarette taxes are collected and increased controls over raw tobacco and other ingredients used in the manufacture of cigarettes.
November 09, 2006 PSC says the decision of the Competition Bureau to end its investigation on the sale of light cigarettes and accept instead a voluntary agreement to suspend the use of a very few marketing terms is a public health loss masquerading as a victory.
October 18, 2006 Physicians call for urgent action against cigarette smuggling. (Ottawa – October 16, 2006) In calling for government to act to curb illegal cigarette sales, a national anti-tobacco agency finds itself in the unusual position of agreeing with a cigarette manufacturer.
June 27, 2006 Minister of Labour urged to provide legislated protection from second-hand smoke – On the heels of new U.S. Surgeon-General’s report demonstrating that second-hand smoke is even more dangerous than previously thought, Canadian health and labour organizations are calling on the federal minister of labour, the honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, to provide federally-regulated workers with effective and legislated protection from exposure to second hand smoke.
May 18, 2006 Motion for a Smoke-Free Canada. PSC’s President calls on lawmakers to support Senators’ motion by passing laws to provide 100% legal protection from second-hand smoke in workplaces and public places.
March 10, 2006 What Wendy Mesley Didn’t Tell Canadians. Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada (PSC) today sent an open letter to Wendy Mesley, offering comments on a recent segment of Marketplace that dealt with cancer prevention.
May 3, 2006 PSC’s Alberta director calls for Alberta’s drug strategy to address tobacco use as a gateway drug for illicit drugs like methamphetamine (“crystal meth”).
Ottawa, February 21, 2006 Heather Crowe’s condition worsens. Heather Crowe, the Ottawa waitress who was the subject of a Health Canada mass media campaign to educate Canadians about the dangers of second hand smoke, was admitted into palliative care in Ottawa this week.
2005
December 12, 2005 On the tenth anniversary of the federal recommendation to completely ban tobacco advertising, health agencies are calling on the government to finally implement this measure.
November 2, 2005 Physicians file complaint with Alberta College of Pharmacists over tobacco sales in pharmacies.
October 21, 2005 Imperial Tobacco’s closure of tobacco plants is an opportunity to say “good buy” . Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada (PSC) today called on the government to stop the “rape and run” tactics of tobacco business corporations by buying tobacco companies outright and seeing that they are run in the public interest to phase out tobacco completely by 2030.
October 20, 2005 Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada (PSC) today called on the federal government to refer the question of a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising to the Supreme Court of Canada.
August 16, 2005 Heather Crowe readmitted to hospital.
July 26, 2005 The magic formula for selling cigarettes—make it easier to control the nicotine dose.
June 20, 2005 Take the business of supplying cigarettes out of their hands and put it into the hands of public organizations with a clear public health mandate. This is the main recommendation of a new study published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and prepared by Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada.
June 20, 2005 In the 1990’s two Toronto television stations sold parts of their news broadcasts as thinly disguised tobacco promotions to a tobacco company. If a tobacco company can buy the news, who else can buy the news? PSC makes public previously secret contracts between Rothman’s, Benson and Hedges and its media partners, City-TV and CFTO-TV.
June 16, 2005 PSC makes public its letter to Health Minister urging that medical marijuana is “smokeless”.
June 15, 2005 Cigarettes sold in Canada as of October 1st will be less likely to cause fires. The Non-Smoker’s Rights Association and Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada congratulate Canada’s Minister of Health, Ujjal Dosanjh, for ensuring that all cigarettes sold in Canada after October 1st 2005 meet the Cigarette Ignition Propensity Regulations published last Monday, the 13th of June. The new regulations will make cigarettes less likely to start fires, by making cigarettes that are left unattended either generate less heat or extinguish themselves. Between 1995 and 1999, unattended cigarettes caused fires that killed a total of 356 people and injured 1615 more.
May 31, 2005 A World No Tobacco Day Message from Canada’s Health Professionals. Leading Canadian health agencies are calling on the federal government to articulate how Canada will continue to help developing countries protect their citizens from tobacco industry products. This call comes on the first World No Tobacco Day since the international Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (the FCTC) came into force,
May 17, 2005 Physicians applaud new initiatives to strengthen tobacco control in Newfoundland, Quebec and Ontario. When implemented, these new measures will dramatically increase the number of Canadians living in smoke-free jurisdictions to 75% within one year.
April 27, 2005 The $100 million election goodie that kills people. Doctors condemn back-door taxpayers’ subsidy to continued tobacco growing and propose a better idea for helping tobacco farmers exit the tobacco growing business.
February 27, 2005 The Alberta government now has an increased obligation to protect the public from second hand smoke, says a national group of Canadian physicians.
February 25, 2005 Landmark Tobacco Treaty Takes Effect on February 27th –
January 17, 2005 – Tobacco company payments to retailers for cigarette promotions increase by 50%.
2004
December 15, 2004 Ontario measures weaker than needed.
December 14, 2004 – Parliament and Health Canada work together to protect lives.
November 30, 2004 “Forty reasons to cheer. Five million reasons to mourn.” Doctors applaud 40th ratification of global tobacco treaty .
November 4, 2004 R-A-T-I-F-Y. Kingston students spell-out need for Canada to ratify the new global tobacco treaty
October 25, 2004 Tobacco companies must be held accountable for deliberately deceiving their customers. PSC hopes that Canadian courts will certify a class action suit and hold tobacco companies accountable for the harmful marketing of cigarettes as ‘light’ or ‘mild.’
September 7, 2004 Mourning the death of Joe Battaglia.
August 26, 2004 Students blow smoke on campus tobacco marketing.
August 24, 2004 Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada today released its correspondence to the President and Chief Executive Officer of Imperial Tobacco, Luc Jobin. PSC is requesting Mr. Jobin to rescind any permission it has given the Forsythe Racing team to use Player’s racing imagery or designs.
July 22, 2004 Tobacco Treaty Deserves Urgent Attention of new Foreign Minister. Health groups call on Canada’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs to quickly ratify the new global tobacco treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
July 20, 2004 Appointment of Ujjal Dosanjh as Health Minister could mean stronger federal action against tobacco. Press Release
May 31, 2004. Think Globally, Ratify Locally. PSC asks provincial ministers of health to clear the way for Canada’s ratification of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Press release
April 6, 2004 Canadian health groups today called on the Prime Minister to ensure that the federal government’s anti-smoking programme is not sacrificed to pay for “new” government priorities. Press release Letter to Prime Minister Background
March 31, 2004 Doctors ask Bob Speller to fairly compensate tobacco farmers and phase out tobacco growing in Canada by 2010. Press Release Letter to Minister Speller
March 31, 2004 Fire-safe cigarettes will be required in Canada by year’s end. Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada and Non-Smoker’s Rights Association congratulate parliament on the passage of C-260. (En francais)
March 2, 2004 Heather Crowe congratulates Manitoba for introducing legislation to protect workers and the public from second-hand smoke.
January 21, 2004 – Weedless Wednesday Press release Heather Crowe’s January 15, 2004 letter to Labour Ministers
January 14, 2004 Press release
CCAT tax brief – “A Win-WIn: Enhancing Public Health and Public Revenue”
January 2, 2004 New York regulators require fire-safe cigarettes and New Zealand researchers show how easily it can be done. PSC calls for Health Canada to get the lead – and the citrate – out. Press release.
2003
December 10, 2003 Heather Crowe asks to meet Premier Ralph Klein to urge him to make all Alberta workplaces smoke-free. Press release
December 1, 2003 Happy Birthday? Two years after indication that ‘light’ and ‘mild’ would be banned, not much has happened. PSC calls on government to explain. Press release
November 27, 2003 Tobacco companies use bully tactics to silence health groups. PSC calls their bluff. News release and related documents
November 11, 2003 Canada should ratify the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control – and set high standards for its implementation. Press release, draft legislation and backgrounder.
August 14, 2003 Press release. PSC thanks Prime Minister for resisting pressure to exempt Formula 1 racing from restrictions on tobacco promotions
June 26, 2003 News-release. PSC shows that the government spends more in tax expenditures for cigarette promotions than it does on anti-tobacco initiatives, and calls for government to end tax-breaks for tobacco promotions.
May 20th, 2003 Heather Crowe pays tribute to Barbara Tarbox.
March 24, 2003 PSC says $10 billion court judgment one more reason to ban ‘light’ cigarette labels.
February 28, 2003 Canadian health groups welcome text for global tobacco treaty.
2002
November 27, 2002. Heather Crowe asks Labour Ministers to ban smoking in all Canadian workplaces. Press Release; Letter from Heather Crowe to Ministers of Labour
November 11, 2002. The marketing of KOOL cigarettes is anything but. PSC asks the government to step in .
July 24, 2002. With the Canadian Coalition for Action on Tobacco, PSC congratulates Ottawa on the one-year anniversary of going smoke-free.
April 24, 2002. PSC sends a message to Big Tobacco: Stop killing babies.
January 23, 2002. On Weedless Wednesday, PSC calls for safer marijuana policy. Press release and position paper.
2001
October 2, 2001. B.C. citizens support smoke-free regulations. PSC commissions public opinion poll on reversal of WCB opinion. Press Release and Poll results (by party and by region).
September 10, 2001. PSC uncovers tobacco industry documents showing that smokers don’t stop frequenting bars and restaurants after a smoking ban. Press release.
August 13, 2001. 1.4 million Canadian smokers are deceived by light and mild descriptors on cigarettes. PSC releases a fact sheet based on purchased Statistics Canada survey data. See also background research on ‘light and mild’ cigarettes (pdf) and an html version.
June 27, 2001. Ottawa’s smoke-free by-laws are valid, says Ottawa lawyer David Hill, in an opinion commissioned by Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada. Press Release.
June 6, 2001. PSC releases report on “Elastic” cigarettes. Press Release, Research Paper and Table of Results.
June 5, 2001. PSC praises Joe Battaglia for taking on Big Tobacco. Press Release
May 25, 2001. PSC releases a letter to Members of Parliament regarding S-15 (the Tobacco Youth Protection), drawing attention to two significant flaws in the legislation that may not be amendable in the House of Commons.
May 23, 2001. PSC releases analysis of how trade agreements can threaten tobacco control measures. An Introduction to International Trade Agreements and their impact on Public Measures to Reduce Tobacco Use, can be downloaded in pdf format (360k, with optional cover, 127k), or ordered by contacting PSC. See also Press Release.
April 5, 2001. Government announces tax increases and program funding increases — PSC responds with applause.
March 6, 2001. The proposed hand-out to tobacco farmers:
Bad health policy. Bad agricultural policy. Bad public policy.
February 7, 2001. Was the RCMP directed to go easy on companies involved in the tobacco black market? Health groups want to know.
Letter to RCMP Complaints Commission;
Background on Smuggling (pdf format)
January 24, 2001. Health Groups Applaud BC’s Leadership in Tobacco Control.
January 16, 2001. Newly released tobacco documents show plans to deceive consumers and authorities.
2000
October 10, 2000. Negotiations Begin on Global Treaty on Tobacco.
May 31, 2000. Forum on Tobacco Industry Documents
February 8, 2000: Doctors’ group calls on B.C. government to release tobacco industry documents
1999
November 11, 1999: Imperial Tobacco’s ‘Elastic’ Cigarettes . Study shows that cigarettes were designed to release more nicotine
October 25, 1999: Abnormally low tobacco taxes are a rip-off of public money and are prolonging the tobacco epidemic, health groups say
June 24, 1999: One in three kids’ health at risk from household smoke, doctors warn
June 1, 1999: Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada honours Dr. Richard Stanwick
April 28, 1999: Secret Documents Show Imperial Tobacco Targeted Youth “Starters”
April 26, 1999: Tobacco Company Breaking Law, says Doctors’ Group
1998
November 16, 1998: A Guide to Tobacco-Free Mutual Funds
October 28, 1998: Despite law, cigarette marketing continues to increase
