Keith Mack
Canada has implemented a variety of anti-smoking measures, including restrictions on smoking in public places and workplaces, advertising bans, health warnings, and increased legal age requirements. While the specific regulations vary across provinces and territories, smoking is generally prohibited in indoor public spaces and workplaces, with some exemptions for designated smoking rooms in specific contexts. The country has also introduced laws against the display of cigarettes in stores and has raised the legal age to purchase tobacco products. Canada's efforts aim to reduce tobacco use among adults and discourage its uptake by young people, with a target of 5% tobacco use by 2035.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Smoking in indoor public spaces | Banned, with some exemptions for residential facilities such as nursing homes and addiction treatment centres |
| Smoking in workplaces | Banned, with some exceptions for residential spaces and workspaces occupied by only one person during a shift |
| Smoking in vehicles with children | Banned |
| Display of cigarettes in convenience stores | Banned |
| Sale of tobacco products to persons under 18 | Banned |
| Sale of single cigarettes and small packets of cigarettes | Banned |
| Advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products | Mostly banned |
| Health warnings on tobacco product packaging | Required, covering 75% of the front and back |
| Plain packaging on tobacco products | Required |
| Sale of flavoured cigarettes | Banned, except for menthol until 2015 |
| Sale of e-cigarettes | Permitted |
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What You'll Learn
Smoking in public spaces and workplaces
Smoking restrictions in public places and workplaces in Canada generally fall under the jurisdiction of the provinces and territories, as well as municipal governments. Federal and provincial legislation bans smoking in indoor public spaces and workplaces, with some exemptions for residential facilities such as nursing homes and addiction treatment centres.
At a federal level, smoking is prohibited in all federal government workplaces, with limited exceptions for residential spaces and workspaces occupied by a single person during a shift, such as vehicular workspaces. Federally-regulated workplaces include the federal government and federal government institutions, such as the armed forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Crown corporations, and federal prisons. Certain commercial sectors, including transportation, broadcasting, telecommunications, and banking, are also included.
Provinces and territories have implemented their own smoking restrictions, with some variations. For example, Alberta banned smoking within 5 metres of doors, windows, and outdoor air intakes in 2008, while Manitoba banned smoking in all workplaces and enclosed public spaces in 2004. Quebec banned smoking in public spaces and workplaces in 2006, including offices, hospitals, restaurants, and bars.
Some municipalities have also enacted laws that restrict smoking further than national or provincial legislation. For example, the City of Ottawa implemented a smoking bylaw in 1976, restricting smoking in indoor public places. In 2012, Ottawa prohibited smoking on all municipal properties, including parks, playgrounds, and beaches. Vancouver went further in 1996, requiring all restaurants to be completely smoke-free.
In addition to these restrictions, Canada has also implemented measures to restrict tobacco advertising and promotion. The Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (formerly the "Tobacco Act") regulates the manufacture, sale, packaging, and labeling of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. The act also addresses advertising, promotion, and sponsorship. The Tobacco Products Control Act (TPCA), enacted in 1989, prohibited tobacco advertising, required health warnings on packaging, and restricted promotional activities. However, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in 1995 that the TPCA was unconstitutional, citing freedom of expression.
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Tobacco advertising restrictions
Canada has implemented various measures to restrict tobacco advertising and promote smoke-free environments. The federal Tobacco Products Control Act (TPCA), passed in 1989, prohibited all forms of tobacco advertising and required health warnings on tobacco product packaging. However, this act was later challenged in court, and in 1997, the Canadian government replaced it with the Tobacco Act, which distinguishes between "brand preference" and "lifestyle" advertising, imposing an absolute prohibition on the latter.
The Tobacco Act and its associated regulations impose general restrictions on manufacturers and distributors, restrict promotion, packaging, and products, and impose point-of-sale restrictions. The Promotion of Tobacco Products and Accessories Regulations (Prohibited Terms) prohibit the use of terms like "light" and "mild" on tobacco products and their packaging, advertising, and promotions. The Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (formerly the "Tobacco Act") and the Non-Smokers’ Health Act are the primary pieces of tobacco control legislation in Canada, regulating the manufacture, sale, packaging, labelling, advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products.
The law prohibits most advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products, with limited exceptions for adult-only venues and direct mail to named adults. Cross-border advertising is also unrestricted, and sponsorship by the tobacco industry is not completely prohibited, although publicity of the sponsorship is. As of February 7, 2020, plain packaging is required for all tobacco products, with health warnings covering 75% of the front and back. The law also regulates the specified contents of cigarettes, banning sugars, sweeteners, menthol, mint, spices, and certain other ingredients.
At the provincial level, there are additional restrictions on tobacco sales, such as banning the sale of single cigarettes and small packets and prohibiting sales to minors. Some provinces have also implemented smoke-free regulations, prohibiting smoking in public spaces and workplaces and within a certain radius of entrances to social services institutions. These regulations vary across provinces, with some provinces banning smoking in all indoor public spaces and workplaces, while others allowing designated smoking rooms in certain facilities.
Canada has also taken steps to align with international labelling obligations under the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which it joined in 2004. The Tobacco Products Appearance, Packaging and Labelling Regulations (TPAPLR) strengthen health-related message requirements and mandate health warnings on all tobacco product packages. These measures reflect Canada's comprehensive approach to tobacco control and its commitment to promoting public health.
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Tobacco packaging and labelling
Canada has strict laws regarding the packaging and labelling of tobacco products. The primary legislation governing tobacco control in Canada is the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (formerly the "Tobacco Act"), which regulates the manufacture, sale, packaging, and labelling of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and HTPs. The act mandates plain packaging and text-only health warnings that must cover 75% of the front and back of tobacco packages. The warnings aim to inform users about the health risks associated with tobacco use and include a toll-free, pan-Canadian quit line number and web address for cessation services.
In 2000, Canada introduced pictorial warning requirements for tobacco packages under the Tobacco Product Information Regulations. These labels combined strong, noticeable images with informative and credible messages to increase awareness of the health hazards of tobacco use. The 2011 Tobacco Products Labelling Regulations (Cigarettes and Little Cigars) further strengthened labelling requirements, mandating pictorial health warnings covering 75% of the front and back of packages, enhanced with colour and images, and easy-to-understand toxic emissions and constituents statements.
To ensure that health messages remain effective and reflect the latest scientific research, the Tobacco Products Regulations (Plain and Standardized Appearance) were adopted in 2019. These regulations standardized the appearance of tobacco packages and products, requiring all packages to be the same drab brown colour with permitted text displayed in a standard location, font style, colour, and size.
In June 2022, Health Canada proposed amendments to the Tobacco Products Regulations (Plain and Standardized Appearance) and the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act to introduce renewed health-related messages, including health warnings, health information messages, and toxicity information statements. These proposals aimed to address the limitations of existing regulations, which did not cover all tobacco products on the Canadian market, potentially misleading consumers about the relative harm of different products.
The Tobacco Products Appearance, Packaging and Labelling Regulations (TPAPLR), introduced in August 2023, consolidated all tobacco product packaging and labelling requirements under one set of regulations. The TPAPLR mandates health-related messages on all tobacco product packages, including health warnings, health information messages, and toxic emission statements. It also requires health warnings directly on cigarettes, little cigars, and tubes to reach young people who may not see the package. Additionally, the TPAPLR stipulates alternating health warning messages every two to three years to maintain their impact and memorability.
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Tobacco sales restrictions
Canada has implemented various measures to restrict the sale of tobacco products and reduce tobacco consumption. The Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (formerly the Tobacco Act) and the Non-Smokers' Health Act are the primary pieces of tobacco control legislation in Canada. These acts, along with their supporting regulations, outline the restrictions on the sale, packaging, and distribution of tobacco products.
The sale of tobacco products is prohibited to individuals under the age of 18. It is illegal to sell single cigarettes or small packets of cigarettes, and vending machine sales of tobacco products are heavily restricted. The law also prohibits the import, packaging, and distribution of cigarettes unless they are in a package containing at least 20 cigarettes. Additionally, the sale of tobacco products is banned on the campuses of post-secondary institutions in at least one province, and in healthcare facilities in multiple provinces.
Tobacco manufacturers and importers are subject to strict regulations under the Tobacco Reporting Regulations. They must disclose information about their products' sales, ingredients, emissions, manufacturing procedures, promotional activities, and research activities to Health Canada. The Tobacco Products Appearance, Packaging, and Labelling Regulations mandate that all tobacco product packages must display health warnings and toxicity information, covering 75% of the front and back of the packaging. Misleading packaging and labelling are prohibited, and the use of terms such as "light" or "ultra" is not allowed. The law also regulates the specified contents of cigarettes, banning the use of sugars, sweeteners, menthol, spices, and ingredients that create the impression of health benefits, among other restrictions.
The sale of heated tobacco products (HTPs) and e-cigarettes is permitted in Canada. However, restrictions on their use in indoor workplaces and public places generally fall under the jurisdiction of the provinces, territories, and municipalities. Advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of these products are restricted, and text-only health warnings are required on their packaging.
Overall, Canada has implemented comprehensive tobacco sales restrictions to protect public health and reduce tobacco consumption, with varying degrees of jurisdiction at the federal, provincial, and territorial levels.
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Provincial and territorial variations
Smoking restrictions in workplaces and public places in Canada are generally the responsibility of the provincial and territorial governments. While federal law prohibits smoking in all federal government workplaces, with a few exceptions, other public places and workplaces fall under the jurisdiction of the provinces, territories, and municipalities.
There are notable variations between the jurisdictions. For example, some provinces may permit ventilated smoking rooms in certain facilities, while others may not. Additionally, the distance from a building at which smoking is banned varies between provinces, as does the legality of smoking in private vehicles occupied by children.
- Alberta banned smoking in public spaces and workplaces within 5 metres of doors, windows, and outdoor air intakes in 2008.
- Quebec banned smoking in public spaces and workplaces, such as offices, hospitals, restaurants, and bars, in 2006.
- Manitoba banned smoking in all workplaces and enclosed public spaces in 2004.
- Ontario was the first province to prohibit smoking in cars with children under 16 present in 2004.
- British Columbia had the lowest smoking rate among its residents as of 2015, at 10.2%.
Some municipalities have also implemented their own laws that restrict smoking further than the applicable national, provincial, or territorial legislation. For example, the City of Ottawa became the first municipality in Canada to implement a smoking bylaw in 1976, restricting smoking in indoor public places.
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Frequently asked questions
No, smoking is not completely illegal in Canada, but it is heavily regulated.
Smoking is banned in all indoor public places, transit and workplaces (including bars, restaurants and casinos) across the country. There are also restrictions on smoking in outdoor public places, such as parks, playgrounds, beaches, sports fields, and around schools.
Yes, there are some exemptions for residential facilities such as nursing homes and addiction treatment centres. Ventilated smoking rooms are permitted in some places, but not all. For example, they are not allowed in bars and restaurants.
Yes, the sale of tobacco products is prohibited to persons under the age of 18. It is also illegal to sell tobacco via vending machines, and the sale of single cigarettes and small packets of cigarettes is banned. The display of tobacco products in stores is also restricted, with retailers required to keep them out of sight.
Yes, the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act regulates the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products. Health warnings are required on all packaging, and plain packaging is mandatory.
