Health Unit says Freeze the Industry

On May 31, 2015, World No Tobacco Day, the Timmins Youth Organization (Y.O.), in partnership with the Porcupine Health Unit, will be delivering a “Freeze the Industry” event to support Ontario’s effort in reducing tobacco use among youth and young adults.

On November 24, 2014, new legislation (Bill 45) was introduced that would ban the sale of all flavoured tobacco and flavoured smokeless tobacco. The regulation is expected to take effect in January 2016, with a delayed implementation date for menthol-flavoured tobacco products. “The tobacco industry has been adding flavours to their products as a deliberate tactic to hook youth and young adults to their products,” says Wendy Legros, Health Promoter – Youth Engagement Lead at the Porcupine Health Unit. “The proposed legislation can make a real difference by protecting the lives of young Ontarians from tobacco industry influence.”

According to the 2012/2013 Youth Smoking Survey, 52% of youth in Grades 9-12 who smoked in the last 30 days used a flavoured product. “We want to live our lives free from the manipulation of the tobacco industry,” says Holly Maass, a youth member of Y.O., “which is one of the reasons we want to support the ban of all flavoured tobacco products.”

“If you would like to support Freeze the Industry and ban flavoured tobacco, please visit our booth at the Timmins Square on May 31, 2015, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be a photo booth, postcards to sign, giveaways and prizes!” says Zoey Howe-Proulx, another youth member of Y.O.

Freeze the Industry is a youth-led campaign that is raising awareness about ways the tobacco industry makes their products appealing (adding flavours and coming up with new products) and is calling for a ban on all flavoured tobacco products in Canada. For more information, please visit www.freezetheindustry.com