The Campaign for a Smoke Free Alberta supporting tobacco control legislation is moving along well. We are assisting the campaign made up of a coalition of 15 professional and health advocacy groups that are the driving force supporting this policy initiative. They are promoting the health and wellness aspects of tobacco control and the dangers of exposure to second hand smoke that currently impacts half a million Albertans.
Smoking bans in public and work places became an issue in the recent PC leadership campaign. It is now being addressed and moving through the government’s policy development and legislative process lead by the Minister of Health and Wellness Dave Hancock. Seven provinces have already passed smoke-free legislation and have banned the “power walls” displays of tobacco products. Six provinces have outlawed tobacco sales in pharmacies. Alberta is just now catching up on these tobacco control public health and workplace safety issues.
A recent poll showed public support for the Hancock initiative at an all time high of 80% for public and workplace bans, 78% for banning pharmacy sales and 67% against tobacco power wall displays. These citizen support figures are essentially the same for urban and rural Albertans.
The Premier has reconfirmed tobacco control legislation must have the support of the PC Caucus and he will abide by that decision. With the change in leadership we are now seeing some change in the political climate around tobacco control in Alberta too – but it is far from a slam dunk. The first indication of this positive change in attitude was the recent Provincial Budget increasing tobacco taxes in the face of past edicts that “…the only way taxes are going in Alberta are down!”
The proposal has passed the first two stages of Agenda and Priorities Committee and the Cabinet Policy Committee. Now it has to go to the Cabinet and Caucus for a decision. The Campaign for a Smoke Free Alberta (http://www.smokefreealberta.com/) has mobilized a very impressive effort to have citizens to contact local MLAs to encourage support.
Now the MSM are getting into the issue big time, with front page stories. The political newsletter Alberta Scan (780-421-9077 for more information) is carrying a very informative piece on the politics of this initiative now too. We have done three related interviews, representing a range of interests and perspectives, on our affiliate website Policy Channel (http://www.policychannel.com/) as well. One interview is with the CEO of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce, another is with the President of the Alberta Federation of Labour and there is an interview with the past-President of the Canadian Medical Association…all of them supporting the tobacco control proposals.
The Yukon is the most recent jurisdiction to catch up on this public health issue and recently passed a private member's bill imposing a territory-wide smoking ban in public places. The Feds have signalled the same kind of ban in federal buildings across the country. Albertans clearly believe this is an idea whose time has come but it is still a political decision so nothing can be taken for granted.
Now it is time for the Stelmach government to make sure Albertans have protections from second hand smoke and we discourage smoking as a public health and wellness issue, particularly amongst teenagers, 8000 of whom took up the habit in 2005 alone.
I agree Ken, the LPC is going to make drastic improvements in Alberta. I mean, surely Albertans will vote for Dion, who has publicly supported a hefty carbon tax as well as other attacks on the oilsands, including a clawback of Capital Cost Allowance deductions.
ReplyDeleteWe should also completely ignore the 50%+ approval rating of Harper in Alberta. Let's also ignore the fact that there were only two close races in the last 2 elections and ignore the fact that the CPC fundraising efforts in Alberta have been extraordinary. Add the fact that there are no star liberal candidates stepping foward, Alberta is fertile ground for the LPC.
As well, I do not rural Albertans could resist the innate allure of a professor francophone Liberal.
And Eric - this comment has what to to with tobacco control legislation?
ReplyDeleteOr are you just so focused on countering everything I say as some CPC appologist that you simply ignore if your comments have any relevance or context to the posting???
Likely from the fact that your posting on the Reform party doesn't appear to have commenting enabled, so people have no where else to rebut your arguments except in this post.
ReplyDeleteI would be interested to know the Reformers you have spoken with Ken - as a Federal Liberal, I'm not certain your information comes as entirely accurate.
I would note that when given the choice in the next election between the Liberal ans the Conservatives, I remain very confident in the decision Albertans will make.
We are, of course, campaigning against a leader of a party who called Alberta a "Milk Cow". Not exactly the kind of conforting messaging Albertans are looking for when evaluating a party that holds zero seats in this province.
Hi Will- I am sure you would like to know the names of the disgrunteld CPC and Neo-Reformers I have spoken to...they are terrified to become known because they fear personal "consequences" as they put it.
ReplyDeleteOne very Conservative guy who is not afraid to speak out publically is Link Byfield. His Citizens Centre for Freedom and Democracy carries his weekly "Commentary" items. They are good reading at www.ccfd.ca
BTW - when are you going to get back to posting on your Blog? I miss you.