The province is stepping up its fight against tobacco use by offering grants of up to $100,000 for non-government organizations (NGOs) to work on projects focused on preventing youth from starting to smoke and helping smokers quit. This announcement was made by Healthy Living and Seniors Minister Deanne Crothers.
“Tobacco use will eventually kill about 2,000 Manitobans this year,” said Minister Crothers. “This new funding will not only prevent young Manitobans from starting to smoke and help smokers quit, it will also reduce health care costs for all Manitobans.”
Under this initiative, organizations with proven experience in tobacco reduction activities will be asked to submit proposals to demonstrate how they intend to use the funding to support programming in youth prevention or smoking cessation. Each eligible NGO will receive an extensive list of criteria that must be met to apply, such as ensuring a focus on vulnerable sub-populations that smoke at high rates and require additional, specific supports to increase the chance of successfully quitting. Proposals that involve partnerships to enhance successful outcomes are encouraged, the minister said.
Minister Crothers noted this initiative, which will grant a total of $500,000 to eligible NGOs, is part of a larger plan to directly support all aspects of the Manitoba Tobacco Control Strategy. The Manitoba government announced that Budget 2015 allocates $2 million for new tobacco control initiatives including the implementation of a public awareness campaign, support of existing stakeholders programs and the provision of free nicotine replacement therapy.
The new tobacco control initiatives funding adds to the long list of tobacco reduction initiatives that have made Manitoba a recognized leader throughout the country in the fight against tobacco use, Minister Crothers said. Previous provincial tobacco reduction initiatives include:
- being the first province to introduce a province-wide smoking ban in enclosed public places and indoor workplaces, and the first to make playgrounds and beaches in provincial parks smoke-free;
- introducing restrictions on the display, advertising and promotion of tobacco products in stores;
- prohibiting tobacco sales in pharmacies, stores containing a pharmacy, health-care facilities and from vending machines;
- the creation of SWAT teams, a peer-led anti-tobacco program, of which there are currently 45 SWAT teams operating in high schools throughout the province; and
- making it illegal to smoke in a private vehicle when someone under the age of 16 is present.
The minister noted the government is particularly proud that provincial initiatives have been effective at reducing tobacco use among youth. According to the Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey, smoking rates for Manitobans 15 and over have declined to 17 per cent in 2013 from 23 per cent in 1999. Smoking rates for youth ages 15 to 19 have declined even more to 13 per cent in 2013 from 29 per cent in 1999.
For information on Manitoba’s quit smoking initiatives, visit www.gov.mb.ca/healthyliving/tobacco.
