Debates of May 31, 2005 (day 5)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, today is World No Tobacco Day, a day set aside by the World Health Organization in 1988 to bring attention to the enormous global impact of tobacco use. Tobacco causes 10,000 deaths a day worldwide and is expected, in 15 years, to overtake infectious diseases as the world’s leading cause of death and disability.

The enormity of this problem has lead to the creation of the framework convention on tobacco control, in the first ever global public health treaty. Canada lead in the development of this treaty and ratified it in May 2005.

Here in the Northwest Territories, we have implemented several tobacco reduction initiatives, guided by Action on Tobacco, our territorial tobacco control strategy.

Today in our visitors’ gallery are students and staff of Ecole St. Joseph School and Range Lake North School. These young people are part of the “Don’t be a Butthead - Be Smoke Free” campaign, which the department launched in May 2004.

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This campaign reaches children before they become smokers and strengthens their resolve to remain smoke free for life. The Butthead campaign has travelled to all communities in the NWT and has received enthusiastic support. More than 2,000 youth have made the commitment to remain smoke free.

I congratulate my two colleagues, Mr. Menicoche and Mr. Yakeleya, who made a commitment to quit when they heard about the Butthead campaign. They have been smoke free for more than seven months.

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I would also like to recognize other Members of this Legislature who have previously quit smoking including Ms. Lee, Mr. Braden and Minister McLeod. You are excellent role models.

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We applaud the commitment shown by so many young people. By this time next year, I hope that the Members will have joined the growing numbers of legislators across Canada, who have enacted laws to control the devastating impact of tobacco use and advance the goal of de-normalizing tobacco use in our society.

Our youth are counting on you. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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