The Honorable Minister of Health and Long-Term Hepburn Block 10th Floor 80 Grosvenor St. Toronto ON M7A 2C4 (Sent via email: [email protected])

September 20, 2018

Dear Minister Elliott

Re: Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017

First, on behalf of the Board of Health for the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit please accept our congratulations on your appointment as Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. The Board is passionate about the role that it plays in protecting and promoting the health of our community and looks forward to working with you and your staff to protect and promote the health of all Ontarians.

While we know that tobacco use is declining, tobacco continues to be the number one cause of death in Ontario, causes significant illness and therefore utilization of the provincial health care system and is an unnecessary economic burden to the province.

We understand that implementation of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA), which was to replace the existing SFOA and the Electronic Cigarettes Act on July 1, 2018, specifically the new regulations related to vaping, has been delayed. We are very concerned about this delay as we believe that harmonizing the rules about the consumption of tobacco, e-cigarettes and combustible cannabis in public places is sound public policy. We agree with other Ontario boards of health, the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) and the Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health (COMOH) (as attached), in supporting the placement of restrictions on vaping while the possible negative health impacts of exposure and long-term use are assessed. The new restrictions will reinforce ongoing efforts to reduce the use of tobacco and its associated or analogous products.

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Honorable Christine Elliott September 20, 2018 Page 2

We respectfully urge the to implement the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 without delay so all Ontarians can benefit from reduced risks of illness and death associated with tobacco, e-cigarettes, and combustible cannabis use; and to work with the public health community in current and future reviews of tobacco control policy.

Sincerely

BOARD OF HEALTH FOR THE HALIBURTON, KAWARTHA, PINE RIDGE DISTRICT HEALTH UNIT

Mark Lovshin Chair, Board of Health

LM/ALN:ed

cc (via email): Hon. , Ms. Laurie Scott, MPP Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock Mr. , MPP Northumberland-Peterborough South Andrea Horwath, MPP, , Leader of the Opposition, Ontario John Fraser, MPP Ottawa South, Interim Liberal Leader, Ontario Helen Angus, Deputy Minister, Health and Long-Term Care Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health Roselle Martino, ADM, Population and Public Health Division (Health and Long-Term Care) Ontario Boards of Health Loretta Ryan, Association of Local Public Health Agencies Pegeen Walsh, Ontario Public Health Association