Saskatchewan has the highest smoking rate in Canada. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Smoking

Health advocates concerned with Saskatchewan smoking rates

Jul 4, 2019 | 5:26 PM

The Canadian Cancer Society is applauding the City of Prince Albert for its smoking bylaw.

“I think your city should be applauded for its bylaw, in protecting kids and adults from second hand smoke,” Donna Pasiechnik, health policy analyst for the Canadian Cancer Society in Saskatchewan, said.

Pasiechnik said local levels of government can take action to help bring the number of smokers down. Specifically, she said municipalities can enact smoking bylaws which are similar to the one recently brought in by the City of Prince Albert. The recent amendment banned smoking in public places and now requires smokers to be nine meters from the entrance of a public facility — an increase from the previous three meter requirement.

Recently, the 2018 Canadian Community Health Survey found 20 per cent of people ages 12 and over in Saskatchewan are smokers — the province with the highest number in the country.

Pasiechnik said her organization is concerned about the rate as 30 per cent of cancers can be linked to smoking and too many young kids are smoking.

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To bring the numbers down, Pasiechnik said work needs to be done at the provincial level.

“It’s been 10 years since the Saskatchewan tobacco laws were updated and during that time we’ve had a number of new issues,” she said.

Pasiechnik said vaping and flavoured tobacco products have become more popular, lending to the issue.

In regards to changes at the provincial level, the cancer society would like to see the age to buy raised to 21 or at least 19 and forcing those who sell tobacco to be licensed. They would also like to see smoking banned on outdoor patios across Saskatchewan.

“There are a number of measures we believe would work to bring our smoking rates down,” said Pasiechnik.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn