Overview

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable disease and premature death in Ontario. It kills 16,000 people a year — more than the deaths caused by alcohol, drugs, suicide, homicide, and car crashes combined.

As of 2021, 11.6% or 1.5 million Ontarians continue to smoke. This includes current daily and occasional smokers.

The Smoke-Free Ontario strategy

The Smoke-Free Ontario (SFO) strategy combines programs, policies, communications, and laws to reduce tobacco use and vapour product use among youth. In addition, the SFO strategy aims to lower the health risks to non-smokers and non-vapers in Ontario.

The SFO strategy has three pillars:

  • Cessation: helping more people quit smoking and vaping.
  • Prevention: stopping people from starting to smoke or vape, especially youth.
  • Protection: protecting people from second-hand smoke and vapour.

A key goal of the SFO strategy is to reduce the proportion of people who smoke in Ontario to 10% by 2023.

Through the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA, 2017), the government has put laws in place that protect Ontarians from second-hand smoke and vapour and keep harmful products out of the hands of children and youth.

The SFOA, 2017:

  • sets out rules for the sale, supply, display, and promotion of tobacco products, tobacco product accessories, and vapour products
  • regulates where smoking tobacco, smoking cannabis (medical and recreational), and vaping is allowed

Programs, services, and partners

We are investing in programs and services that protect Ontarians from the harmful effects of tobacco use and vaping, and ensuring young people do not get addicted to tobacco and vaping products. Smoking cessation services include providing  nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and counseling.

We are working collaboratively with federal and municipal governments, public health units, and non-governmental organizations to help reduce the prevalence of smoking and vaping in Ontario.

Get support to quit smoking

Where to get support to quit smoking