GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS RATIFICATION OF FRAMEWORK ON TOBACCO CONTROL

The Saskatchewan Government is pleased to express support for the Government of Canada's ratification of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

The FCTC has international, national and provincial significance. It will ground tobacco control efforts at every level in an international legal framework of norms and standards; it will assist countries in addressing issues such as tobacco advertising and smuggling; and, it will create a forum for sharing knowledge and expertise in the advancement of tobacco control measures.

"Tobacco is extremely addictive, and the health effects of smoking are very serious and insidious. Our collective action on tobacco control is key to addressing the public health consequences of this hazardous product," Health Minister John Nilson said. "We are pleased, in this province, to be leading the way on many fronts in the area of tobacco control. With Saskatchewan's Tobacco Control Act, we are protecting the health of Saskatchewan people, reducing tobacco use, and stopping preventable disease. Now, with our support for the FCTC, we've taken another significant step toward ensuring a healthier, tobacco-free future for generations to come."

Minister Nilson has written to federal Minister of Health, Pierre Pettigrew, to offer the Government of Saskatchewan's formal support for ratification. Saskatchewan is the second jurisdiction to do so, following formal support from the Government of the Northwest Territories in March.

Negotiations on the FCTC began in October 2000, with agreement reached in Geneva in February 2003. The Convention was presented to the World Health Assembly in May 2003 for adoption. It was then opened for signature and ratification. Forty countries are required to ratify the Convention before it comes into force; to date, over 100 countries have signed on to the FCTC, and several have ratified it. Canada signed on in July, 2003 with the full backing of all provinces and territories.

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For More Information, Contact:

Mark Rathwell Health Regina Phone: (306) 787-4083