Programs and services » Smoke Free Ontario Scientific Advisory Committee Smoke Free Ontario Scientific Advisory Committee

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Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of premature death and illness in Ontario. Currently, about one in five (19.8%) Ontarians smoke. Tobacco use accounts for the premature and preventable deaths of approximately 13,000 Ontarians each year, the vast majority due to cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive lung disease.
According to the latest estimates, tobacco remains responsible for about 17% of all deaths; the economic (direct and indirect) costs of tobacco use are estimated to be $6.06 billion annually for the province, which translates to $502 for every Ontarian (including non-smokers), or about 1.4% of the province’s gross domestic product.

OAHPP assembled the SFO-SAC to provide evidence-informed, scientific and technical advice to support the renewal of the Smoke-free Ontario Strategy for 2010-2015. This advice will be tabled in a report to be submitted by OAHPP to the Ministry of Health Promotion (MHP) at the end of March 2010.

The SAC’s work will be based on:

• a broad review of the literature;
• monitoring data and trend analysis, and
• interviews with stakeholders and key informants

The approach to SAC is consistent with OAHPP’s mandate as a hub organization linking practitioners and researchers to provide scientific and technical advice to protect the health of all Ontarians and reduce inequities in health.

OAHPP has convened the best scientific minds in the tobacco control field from Ontario to preside on the SAC. Their work is supported by a project secretariat (at the OAHPP) that is committed to scientific excellence and broad engagement of the tobacco control community. In addition, an International Expert Panel (IEP), consisting of internationally renowned tobacco control scientists, will provide external peer review on the process and final deliverable to assure quality and scientific rigor, and incorporation of advice from jurisdictions outside Ontario.