Frequently Asked Questions About Ontario’s Smoke-Free Strategy

1. Why is the government cracking down on smoking?
2. What is the government’s goal?
3. What exactly is the government’s strategy to reduce smoking rates?
4. Why does the government believe its smoke-free strategy will work?
5. What is the Smoke-Free Ontario Act?
6. When does the legislation take effect?
7. What is new about the legislation?
8. Where is smoking prohibited?
9. How will the act be enforced?
10. Where can I get more information?

A: Tobacco use ranks as the number-one preventable cause of death in Ontario, responsible for 13,000 deaths each year.

Tobacco-related diseases cost the Ontario economy approximately $1.6 billion in health care annually, $4.4 billion in productivity losses and account for at least 500,000 hospital days each year.

The government committed, following its election in 2003, to strengthening tobacco control in Ontario.

A: The government made a commitment to reduce tobacco consumption by 20 per cent before the end of 2007. This was achieved ahead of schedule. Between 2003 and 2006, there was a 31.8 per cent decline in tobacco consumption, indicating that approximately 4.6 billion fewer cigarettes were sold.

A: The Smoke-Free Ontario strategy will improve the health of all Ontarians by:

• Preventing children and youth from starting to smoke
• Helping Ontarians quit smoking
• Protecting Ontarians from involuntary exposure to second-hand smoke.

A: The Smoke-Free Ontario strategy is the most comprehensive tobacco- control strategy Ontario has ever had, and it is among the toughest and most far-reaching tobacco-control strategies in North America.

The strategy is based on internationally-accepted “best practices” guidelines for comprehensive tobacco-control programs, with consideration for the goals, objectives and logic models developed by a provincial external advisory committee.

A: The act is a core element of the Smoke-Free Ontario strategy.

It’s a landmark piece of legislation that shields workers and the public from the harmful effects of tobacco by banning smoking in enclosed public places and enclosed work places.

It also strengthens laws on tobacco sales to minors and restricts the display of tobacco products in retail outlets. A complete ban on the retail display of tobacco products came into force on May 31, 2008.

A: The legislation came into force on May 31, 2006.

It includes a complete ban on the retail display of tobacco products that came into force on May 31, 2008.

A: Smoking is banned in all enclosed public places and enclosed workplaces, with a few exceptions including residential care facilities, designated veteran's facilities and psychiatric facilities, that have the option to build a controlled smoking area, and hotel guest rooms designated as smoking rooms.

Designated smoking rooms (DSRs) in restaurants, bars and other workplaces are prohibited.

Smoking is not allowed on restaurant and bar patios that have roofs.

The laws governing tobacco sales to minors are strengthened, and the display of tobacco products in retail outlets is further restricted. A complete ban on the retail display of tobacco products came into force on May 31, 2008.

The Ontario government has introduced legislation that, if passed, would ban smoking in motor vehicles with children present.

A: Smoking is prohibited in enclosed public places and enclosed workplaces, such as:

• Offices and factories
• Bars
• Restaurants
• Hospitals
• Residential care facilities
• Schools (including school grounds)
• Licensed day nurseries
• Licensed private home day cares
• Work vehicles
• Public transportation (including subways and subway stations, buses and vans, and ticketing, boarding and waiting areas)
• Taxicabs and limousines
• Shopping malls
• Arenas
• Casinos and bingo halls
• Private clubs and legion halls
• Bowling alleys
• Barbershops and hair salons
• Laundromat

The Ontario government has introduced legislation that, if passed, would ban smoking in motor vehicles with children present.

A: Enforcement officers with Ontario’s local public health units will enforce the act.

For information about enforcement and to learn more about the act, contact your local public health unit. Find the local public health unit in your area.

You may also obtain information by visiting the Ontario government’s website, Ontario.ca/smokefree.

Or call our toll-free InfoLine:

1-866-396-1760
TTY 1-800-387-5559

Hours of operation:
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.