Survey reveals decline in smoking rates in Canada

OTTAWA – Earlier today, new statistics as per the annual results of the Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (CTUMS) reveal that smoking rate in Canada has hit an all-time low to 17% in 2010.

Minister of Health, Honorable Leona Aglukkaq says, “The numbers announced today are encouraging, as they show more Canadians are making the healthy choice when it comes to smoking. I am particularly encouraged by the numbers when it comes to youth.”

Results of a survey conducted in 2010 reveal that key age groups have demonstrated a considerable decline in their smoking rates. For instance, in the year 2010, smoking rates amongst adolescents in the age group of 15 to 17 crashed to 9%, which was the lowest ever recorded for that group.

Since 1999, Statistics Canada conducts a national survey called CTUMS on behalf of Health Canada.

In view of the rising little cigar smoking levels among youth, the Canadian government had established the Cracking down on Tobacco Marketing Aimed at Youth Act in 2010. CTUMS 2010 revealed that the 30-day little cigar smoking rate among youth in the age group of 15 to 19 is 6%. This is a statistically significant decline from the 8% rate in 2009.
Over the past 12 years, CTUMS has witnessed a smoking-rate decline to 17% in 2010, from an all-time high of 25% in 1999.