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Tobacco

The HKPR District Health Unit's Tobacco Control Officers (TCOs) are designated as Provincial Offences Officers by the Province of Ontario with authority to enforce the Smoke Free Ontario Act (SFOA). 

In the community, the Health Unit’s TCOs are responsible for ensuring all public and workplaces are compliant with the SFOA banning smoking and vaping in all enclosed public and workplaces (including work vehicles). They also ensure tobacco and vapour product vendors follow the laws governing the sale of age-restricted products. 

What is Tobacco?

Tobacco is a plant that is primarily grown for its leaves, which are dried and processed to make various tobacco products. It contains a substance called nicotine. Which is highly addictive. Tobacco is commonly used for smoking in cigarettes, cigars, and pipes as well as in smokeless products such as chewing tobacco and snuff. The use of tobacco products has been linked to numerous health problems, including lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses. 

HKPR District Health Unit's Tobacco Control Officers (TCOs) are designated as Provincial Offences Officers by the Province of Ontario with authority to enforce the SFOA. 

In the community, the Health Unit’s TCOs are responsible for ensuring all public and workplaces are compliant with the SFOA banning smoking and vaping in all enclosed public and workplaces (including work vehicles). They also ensure tobacco and vapour product vendors follow the laws governing the sale of age-restricted products. 

Duties of Tobacco Control Officers 

  • Inspect local businesses, public places, schools and workplaces to ensure proper No-Smoking signage is posted as required. 
  • Public places include parks, sport facilities (indoor and outdoor), splash pads and playgrounds where children and other community members may be exposed to harm from tobacco and vaping products 
  • Inspect tobacco and vapour product vendors to ensure they are complying with the advertising and promotion restrictions identified in the SFOA. 
  • Inspect tobacco and vapour product vendors using youth test shoppers to ensure stores will not sell tobacco or vapour products to anyone under 19 years of age. 
  • Lay charges where necessary and follow through court process. 
  • Respond to complaints and requests from the public for assistance to ensure compliance with the SFOA laws. 
  • Inspect local businesses, public places, schools and workplaces to ensure appropriate signage that is required to be posted by the SFOA is in place. 
  • Age restriction signage, prohibited areas and radius (i.e. 20 metres from school properties, community recreational facilities, 9 metres from restaurant/bar patios), etc.

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA) regulates the sale, supply, use, display and promotion of both tobacco and vapour products while also regulating the smoking and vaping of cannabis. The SFOA is enforced by Health Unit Tobacco Control Officers (TCOs) and protects and regulates smoking in public places. There are many benefits to smoke-free spaces, including: 

  • Reducing the health risks of second-hand smoke exposure: 
  • Infants and children (asthma concerns) 
  • Adults (respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses) 
  • Females (breast cancer attributed to second hand smoke) 
  • De-normalizing tobacco use. 
  • Children who see adults using tobacco or vape products may feel that when they become adults, this is the adult thing to do. 
  • Creating a healthier environment. 
  • Waste from tobacco products pollute our environment. 
  • Chemicals from tobacco or vape products are long lasting. 
  • Plastics in tobacco cigarette filter are long lasting. 

Places of Use 

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act defines the places where you can and cannot smoke or vape in Ontario.  

  • You observe a store sell a tobacco or vapour product to someone who appears under 25 years of age and no identification is requested.  
  • Someone you work with is smoking inside the workplace or a work vehicle. 
  • You have a question about how the SFOA applies to your business. 
  • You are opening a new business and you wish to sell tobacco and/or vapour products. 

Call the Health Unit at 1-866-888-4577 Ext. 2202 and speak to a Tobacco Control Officer (we accept and investigate anonymous complaints). You can also email info@hkpr.on.ca.

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