The Canadian Health Minister, Jane Philpott, announced today that the Canadian government is planning to pursue a requirement that all tobacco products sold in the country come in plain, standardized packaging. The move comes as part of a plan to reduce tobacco use amongst Canadian youth, particularly cigarettes and other cheaply priced tobacco products. “I don’t believe tobacco companies should be allowed to build brand loyalty with children, for a product that could kill them,” Philpott said. “Research shows that plain packaging of tobacco products is an effective way to deter people from starting to smoke and will bolster our efforts to reduce tobacco use in Canada. Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death and disease in Canada, and we are committed to fighting this issue from all sides.” While the announcement comes on World No Tobacco Day, an initiative launched by the World Health Organization in an attempt to reduce global tobacco use, the movement has been in the works for some time. On Nov. 13, 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote a mandate letter to Philpott, calling plain packaging a top priority. Today’s announcement marks the beginning of a period of public consultations that will last ...
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