Canada: Group Pushes for Harsher Tobacco Restrictions

Source from:  Canadian Television (CTV) (ca)  05/30/2013

Butt out before buckling up, urges the Quebec Cancer Society, who argued Tuesday that children should not be forced to breathe second-hand smoke in motor vehicles.

The group held a press conference Tuesday to pressure the province to enact anti-smoking legislation to protect the estimated 89,000 Quebec kids exposed to second-hand smoke in cars.

The group said that Quebec is the last remaining province to allow motorists to light up with kids in tow.

The anti-smoking advocates would also like to see the government clamp down on tobacco products such as strawberry-flavoured cigarettes, as they appear designed to attract new smokers.

The group also wants the province to force tobacco companies to sell their wares in plain packaging.

As well, they call for a moratorium on new tobacco products.

Micheline Belanger, who kicked her lifelong nicotine addiction only after being diagnosed with lung cancer three years ago, was on hand Tuesday to applaud the initiatives.

Belanger, who started smoking at the tender age of 12, believes that more must be done to prevent others from suffering her fate.

Parti Quebecois Health Minister Rejean Hebert, when interviewed by CTV Montreal Tuesday in Quebec City, said that new legislation is in the works but he declined to offer any details.

He said that the new rules could be tabled as early as this fall. Enditem