Key Takeaways
- Federal Health Minister Majorie Michel said she is looking into legislation to permanently ban tobacco sales to anyone born after 2008.
- She said Canada is reviewing the approach taken recently in the United Kingdom with partners.
- Last week, both houses of the UK Parliament passed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which would stop anyone born after Jan. 1, 2009 from taking up smoking, though it still requires royal assent.
- Health Canada said the federal government has invested C$66 million annually since 2018 to help Canadians quit smoking and reduce the harms of nicotine addiction.
2Firsts, April 29，2026
According to CTV News, Canada’s federal health minister, Majorie Michel, said she is looking into legislation that would permanently ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone born after 2008.
The health minister said she is reviewing the idea
Speaking on Parliament Hill on Tuesday, Majorie Michel was asked whether Canada would consider legislation similar to the bill recently proposed in the United Kingdom, which aims to reduce cigarette and vape use among young people. Michel told reporters, “I am looking into it right now. We saw what the U.K. did, but I am looking into it with all partners for now.”
The UK bill has passed both houses and still requires royal assent
The report said that last week, both houses of the UK Parliament passed what is being called the “Tobacco and Vapes Bill.” The measure is aimed at stopping anyone born after Jan. 1, 2009 from taking up smoking. The bill still requires royal assent.
Health Canada did not say whether it is formally studying a similar ban
When asked whether Health Canada had been tasked with examining a UK-style ban, a department spokesperson said they had nothing to add to a statement issued to CTV News last week.
On April 22, Health Canada told CTV News that the Government of Canada has invested C$66 million annually since 2018 to help Canadians quit smoking and reduce the harms of nicotine addiction. The department did not specifically say whether it was, or had ever, seriously considered a lifetime ban for people aged 17 and younger.
Health Canada spokesperson Mark Johnson said, “The Government of Canada works collaboratively with partners and key stakeholders to protect Canadians, especially youth, from the harms of smoking using the best available data and evidence.”
Canada has set a goal of reducing tobacco use to below 5% by 2035
The report said Canada has set a goal of reducing tobacco use to less than five per cent by 2035. The 2024 Canadian Community Health Survey estimates that 11 per cent of Canadians aged 18 and over reported smoking.
A government study said a smoke-free generation policy could lower healthcare costs
On vaping, data from Statistics Canada suggest that one in 10 Canadians aged 20 to 24, and one in 50 aged 25 and older, use a vape every day.
A study posted on the Government of Canada’s website assessed the potential impacts of a “smoke-free generation” policy, defined as a perpetual ban on cigarette sales to anyone born after 2009. The study found that after 50 years, the policy would lead to C$2.3 billion less in healthcare costs.
The report also said the policy would lead to nearly 480,000 more quality-adjusted life years. It stated: “The implementation of an SFG policy will bring substantive health benefits to the population in Canada.
Although health-care cost savings are lower than the combination of lost tax revenues and the decline in the GDP from the Canadian tobacco industry, the value of the health benefits realized outweigh the negative offsets.”
The justice minister said he has not formally been involved in policy development
Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser told reporters on Tuesday that he has not spoken with the health minister about any sort of tobacco ban for young people.
Fraser said, “I think obviously doing whatever we can to reduce the consumption of tobacco products amongst young people is extremely important.”
He also said he expected to speak with Michel later on Tuesday and added, “I’ve got a personal opinion on it, but have not been engaged formally in the policy development process.”
Image source: CTV News
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