body:
Nickel Belt MPP and NDP Health Critic France Gélinas is urging the Minister of Health Promotion to reverse her decision to terminate funding to the Youth Action Alliance, a program led by youth to empower their peers to resist the tactics of tobacco marketing.
This morning in the Legislature, Gélinas raised the concerns of youth from across the province regarding the loss of this effective anti-tobacco program.
“Yesterday, my office was flooded with letters from youth who are angry and upset that this government has decided to terminate funding for this important program,” said Gélinas.
“These youth know firsthand how important the Youth Action Alliance is to their community and to anti-tobacco efforts, yet something just isn’t getting through to the McGuinty government.”
In response, Health Promotion Minister Margarett Best indicated that funding would not be continued beyond August.
“These programs require little money to do a lot of good. Without adequate prevention, Ontarians will be paying exponentially more when the time comes to deal with tobacco-related disease. This government is trying to save a penny but Ontarians will be paying dearly for these cuts,” said Gélinas, adding that tobacco-related health care costs are $1.6-billion annually and that tobacco is the leading cause of premature death and illness in Ontario.
“These youth are active, knowledgeable, energetic, and credible with their peers – they make a difference. The Minister of Health Promotion needs to guarantee the continued funding of this program so that youth across this province stay tobacco free.”
Province blasted for cancellationYouth program using peer-to-peer counselling to discourage teen smoking goes up in smoke
June 04, 2009
Frances Barrick
RECORD STAFF
Waterloo regional councillors are slamming the province for cancelling a youth program aimed at preventing teens from smoking. According to a 2007 regional survey, about one in 10 teens smoke, and most people who smoke said they started in their teen years, Mary Sehl, regional manager of tobacco programs, told councillors this week.
"It is something we have been very proud of," Sehl said of the peer-to-peer program about the dangers of smoking.
Called Youth Action Alliance Program, it involves two full-time supervisors and 14 part-time peer leaders participating in programs geared to discouraging teen smoking and informing youth about tactics the tobacco industry use to get new customers, particularly youth. Locally, the program is run by the public health unit. All 16 employees will lose their jobs when the program ends Aug. 31. Its $230,000 cost is covered by the province under the Smoke-Free Ontario strategy.
Currently, the two youth groups, one in Kitchener-Waterloo and one in Cambridge, are circulating a petition asking the federal government to ban flavoured tobacco and chewing tobacco and are encouraging local sports teams to adopt policies banning smoking near playing fields.
"I think it is very unfortunate because peer-to-peer is the best way," said Coun. Jane Mitchell of Waterloo."It seems a shame to throw it all away," added Coun. Tom Galloway of Kitchener.
Councillors agreed to write the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion to oppose the move and encourage the ministry to develop a new, similar program.They also asked Dr. Liana Nolan, the region's medical officer of health, to investigate the possibility of maintaining some form of the program in the region.Gary Wheeler, spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion, said yesterday the ministry cancelled the program because it wants the province's anti-smoking message to reach more Ontarians, and the ministry is in the process of developing new programs building on the success of the youth campaigns."The plan is to bring in a new youth-oriented program or programs in the fall," said Wheeler, declining to get into specifics as the programs are still being developed…
