Nunavut gets good marks for anti-tobacco measures

This week, to mark National Non-smoking Week, each province and territory has received a report card measuring their success in controlling tobacco use.

The status report, developed and produced by the Canadian Tobacco Control Provincial Councils and Coalitions Network, ranks each province and territory according to the highest standard.

Nunavummiut smoke at a higher rate than anywhere else in Canada and the rate of lung cancer is much higher.

But Nunavut comes in better than average on its report card. Nunavut is making progress with tobacco control and the territory received a passing grade in four categories, for having:

* 100 per cent smoke-free workplaces;
* 100 per cent smoke-free public places;
* a retail display ban;
* a ban on pharmacy sales.

The territory receives a “C” for the amount of tax it charges on a carton of 200 cigarettes because its tax rate hasn’t gone up since July of 2002.

The Northwest Territories, where the tax per carton is $42, receives an A+.

Quebec comes up short. It receives an “F” for its provincial tax rate of $20.60 per carton, the lowest in Canada.

Quebec receives an “Incomplete” for its legislation on smoke-free workplaces. That’s because the Quebec Tobacco Act of 1998 made all traditional workplaces (not public places) smoke-free, but allowed for designated smoking rooms.

This law is under revision, and Quebec is looking at extending the ban to all workplaces.

Quebec receives another “fail” because it hasn’t yet clamped down on smoking in public places. The government has said it intends to bring in a 100 per cent smoke-free environment in public places this spring.

The province also receives a “fail” for not imposing a retail display ban. It does receive a “pass” because the sale of tobacco products has been banned in all pharmacies since 1998.

The revision of the Quebec Tobacco Act is underway and it may contain a ban on all sales in governmental, educational or medical facilities as well as at outdoor events.