Government commitment questioned

In Canada, a letter from the Campaign for a Smoke-Free Alberta to the Health Minister Sarah Hoffman has asked why the government continues to put off full implementation of the Tobacco and Smoking Reduction Act, which was passed three years ago by the then government of the day.

According to a story by David J. Climenhaga for rabble.ca, the never-enacted sections act include: a ban on the use of water pipes and electronic cigarettes in public establishments; a ban on flavored pipe and water-pipe tobacco; mandatory training for tobacco retailers; and strict tobacco retailing sign requirements.

The letter, a copy of which was obtained by AlbertaPolitics.ca, alleges also that Alberta Health Services has cut funding to smoking reduction programs and that unnamed government officials continue to meet in private with tobacco industry lobbyists.

“We believe that these concerns can readily be addressed with your help,” the letter tells Hoffman.

Smoke-Free Alberta is made up of Action on Smoking and Health, the Alberta Public Health Association, the Alberta Policy Coalition for Chronic Disease Prevention, the Alberta-N.W.T. chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Alberta-N.W.T. branch of the Lung Association.

The letter calls for the government to remove a regulatory exemption to the law that allows minors to sell tobacco products, saying evidence suggests young sales people are more likely to sell tobacco illegally to other minors.