Tobacco use is the biggest preventable cause of death and disease in Ontario. It kills 13,000 Ontarians each year. As of May 31, 2006, through the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, the Ontario Government protects the health of all Ontarians by prohibiting smoking in enclosed workplaces and enclosed public places.

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

New: Smoking in Cars
Click here to find out more about the smoking in cars legislation.

Creating a Smoke-Free Ontario
Click here for more information about the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy.

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.

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 having prohibited 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 will phase out the display of tobacco products, with a complete ban beginning May 31, 2008.

For background information, see the following fact sheets:

• Smoking Trends in Ontario (23KB)
• Health Effects of Smoking (36KB)
• Health Effects of Second-hand Smoke (35KB)
• Point-of-Sale Displays (39KB)
• Cost of Tobacco Use and Tax Revenues (27KB)
• 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.