Canada mulling U.K.-style 'generational' tobacco ban, health minister says
· Toronto Sun
Canada is mulling using legislation to convince young people to stop smoking.
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On Tuesday, Health Minister Majorie Michel said the Mark Carney Liberal government is “looking into” adapting legislation similar to that found in the United Kingdom.
“We saw what the U.K. did, I am looking into it with all partners for now,” she told reporters outside of the party’s weekly caucus meeting in the West Block on Parliament Hill.
The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 , which passed through the U.K. Parliament last week and received royal assent on Wednesday, introduces a “rolling” age limit of those legally able to purchase and use tobacco — part of nationwide efforts to create the UK’s first “smoke-free generation.”
Canada aims to reduce tobacco use to 5%
Under the new law, it would be a crime as of Jan. 1 2027, to sell tobacco to anybody born on or after Jan. 1, 2009, eventually leading to an outright prohibition as that cohort ages out.
The law also introduces new restrictions on vaping, giving cabinet the ability to dictate flavour and packaging, a ban on sponsorships and advertising by vape and nicotine pouch manufacturers and a ban on single-use vapes.
Canada’s current tobacco strategy , overseen by Health Canada, aims to cut tobacco use in Canada to less than 5% by 2035.
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Youth smoking rate at about 2%
According to the latest available government data, roughly 11% of Canadian adults 18 and over regularly smoke cigarettes — about the same as the United States and 1% less than the U.K. — while youth smoking rates in this country currently sit at about 2%.
Smoking is highest in Canada’s territories at around 34%, followed by Newfoundland and Labrador at 17.2%, Nova Scotia at 15.4%, New Brunswick at 14.8%, Saskatchewan at 14.1% and Prince Edward Island at 13.9%.
Canada’s lowest percentages of smokers can be found in Alberta (10.9%), Ontario (10.1%) and British Columbia (9.2%) — but despite the low concentration of smokers, Alberta and Ontario see nicotine vape use at levels higher than the national average.
Sweden boasts the world’s lowest concentration of cigarette smokers at just 6%.