By paNOW Staff

Province aims to reduce smoking

Oct 25, 2010 | 3:37 PM

paNOW Staff

About one hundred people from various health authorities are expected to attend the meetings, which are scheduled to last two days.

“It is widely recognized that smoking contributes to significant health problems for smokers and those exposed to environmental tobacco smoke,” said Saskatchewan Health Minister Don McMorris.

“Several stakeholders have been closely involved in planning and organizing this event and I would like to thank them for their contribution. Our government is looking at all strategies to reduce tobacco use in Saskatchewan.”

Saskatchewan has one of the highest smoking rates in Canada, according to researcher Chad Nilson with the Living Skies Centre for Social Inquiry.

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Nilson says about 20 per cent of people aged 15 and up in Saskatchewan smoke, adding that the smoking rate on First Nations in the province is even higher with over half of residents using tobacco.

The next phase of the government’s tobacco reduction strategy is to prohibit pharmacies from selling cigarettes. McMorris says that move will likely come into effect in April 2011.

Earlier this year, the government introduced new tobacco legislation. Among the changes were prohibiting smoking on all school grounds and banning smoking inside a vehicle with children.