On April 27, 2011 the provincial government announced its five-year comprehensive tobacco control strategy, Moving toward a Tobacco-Free Nova Scotia, to address smoking rates in the province.

Nova Scotia has one of the highest rates of smoking in the country with 18 per cent of Nova Scotians smoking, two per cent above the national average.

The strategy was developed over the past several years through extensive stakeholder consultation. Doctors Nova Scotia was part of this process, submitting feedback through its membership with Smoke-Free Nova Scotia  and as an independent association.

The report is extensive, posing 57 actions the government can take to help reduce tobacco use in the province. The actions range from focusing on the behaviour of the tobacco industry to exploring legislation to increase smoking cessation.

Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death in our province and the strategy is an excellent blueprint to reduce this death toll. Doctors Nova Scotia will continue to work with stakeholders and government to ensure the actions in the strategy are implemented.