Tobacco use is the biggest preventable cause of death and disease in Ontario. It kills 13,000 Ontarians each year. Ontario has established a comprehensive Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy, which combines public education with programs, policies and legislation to encourage young people not to smoke, helps smokers quit, and protects people from exposure to second-hand smoke. Through the Smoke-Free Ontario Act (enacted May 31, 2006), the Ontario Government protects the health of all Ontarians by prohibiting smoking in enclosed workplaces and enclosed public places and banning the public display of tobacco products prior to purchase. As of January 21, 2009, smoking in a motor vehicle with children under age 16 years present is prohibited.

A new law prohibiting Ontarians from smoking in motor vehicles with passengers under 16 came into effect on January 21, 2009.

Under the law, a driver or passenger smoking in a motor vehicle, while someone else under the age of 16 is present, is committing an offence, and can be fined up to $250.

Second-hand smoke in motor vehicles can be up to 27 times more concentrated than in a smoker’s home.

Children exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to suffer Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma.

Second-hand smoke can also influence a child's ability to reason and understand, and can negatively impact behaviour and attention span.

• Go to the Smoking in Motor Vehicles legislation.

Click on the links below to see how this legislation affects you.

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Tobacco Display Ban
Click here to find out more about the display ban.

Creating a Smoke-Free Ontario
Click here for more information about the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy.
(January 2009)

Smoke-Free Ontario Legislation
Find out more about the Smoke-Free Ontario legislation.

Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about Ontario’s Smoke-Free Strategy.

People start smoking for lots of reasons. But it’s nicotine addiction that can make it so hard to quit. The good news is that many people quit every day – and you have it in you to quit too! For help and a plan to quit call:

SMOKERS' HELPLINE at 1 877 513-5333
or visit Smokers’ Helpline Online
for web-based self-help.

Quit - You Have it in You
You can also check out quitting tips, tools and information by clicking on one of the following links:

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Funded by the Ministry of Health Promotion, the Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients (STOP) Study is exploring the most effective methods to help Ontarians quit smoking, by examining five different ways to distribute nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) in conjunction with cessation counselling, to people who want to quit smoking. To find out if you qualify and for more information on how to participate, click here.

• Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients (STOP) Study - Backgrounder

The Ontario government is protecting the health of all Ontarians by prohibiting smoking in enclosed workplaces and enclosed public places in Ontario as of May 31, 2006. The legislation strengthens measures to ensure only those 19 years of age and older can buy cigarettes and provides for a complete ban on the display of tobacco products effective May 31, 2008.

For background information, see the following fact sheets:

• Smoking Trends in Ontario (39KB)
• Health Effects of Smoking (44KB)
• Health Effects of Second-hand Smoke (35KB)
• Point-of-Sale Displays (39KB)
• Cost of Tobacco Use and Tax Revenues (32KB)
• Economic Impact of Smoke-Free Policies (42KB)

Each year, about 90,000 kids in Ontario try smoking. The province is taking steps to prevent young people from smoking through its interactive website: Stupid.ca.

The website informs kids about the dangers of smoking and encourages them to be more involved in tobacco control activities in their communities and schools.