Smoking in Canada
In Canada, smoking is allowed and tobacco products are regulated. Under these regulations, cigarettes can be sold, purchased online, used, and bought from vending machines. The importation of cigarettes for trade is permitted with a trade license. Health warnings are required on cigarette packaging, the minimum legal age for sales is 18 years, and there are legal restrictions on smoking in public places. Cigarettes are subject to an excise tax value of 54.47% and a total taxation rate of 63.34%. Available data show that smoking remains a significant public health issue in Canada. In 2024, there were approximately 3.5 million current smokers aged 15 years and older. This shows that the adult current smoking prevalence was 10.6% in 2024, with 13.1% among males and 8.1% among females. In comparison, this prevalence was 11.4% in 2022. For reference, the number of daily smokers was approximately 3.5 million in 2017 which shows that the adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence was 11.6%, with 19.1% among males and 13.4% among females. In 2021, smoking led to 34,171 deaths in Canada, including 20,700 deaths among males and 13,471 among females. This indicates that smoking accounted for 11% of all deaths in 2021 in the country, including 12.8% of male deaths and 9.04% of female deaths.
Read articles from Canada
May 12, 2026 by clearingtheair.eu
Canada’s vape flavour ban stalls as evidence mounts against smoking ‘gateway’ fears
Canada’s proposed ban on vape flavours appears to be losing momentum as growing evidence challenges concerns that vaping acts as a gateway to smoking. Critics argue that restrictions on non-tobacco flavours could produce unintended consequences, including higher cigarette consumption and expansion of illicit markets. Research from Canada and other countries suggests that many adult vapers rely on flavours to remain smoke-free and may return to smoking if those options disappear. At the same time, studies examining flavour bans have raised questions about whether such policies achieve their intended public health outcomes.
The debate reflects broader tensions between youth protection strategies and harm reduction approaches aimed at helping adults move away from combustible cigarettes.
May 11, 2026 by cbc.ca
5 years after promising to restrict vaping flavours, it's unclear whether Canada will
Canada's health minister, Marjorie Michel, is considering banning vaping flavors to combat the country's high youth vaping rate. Despite pressure to act, Michel is still reviewing the decision. Research suggests flavor bans reduce youth vaping without increasing smoking rates. While vaping can help adult smokers quit, it poses risks, and vaping among Canadian youth is a concern. The vaping industry resists restrictions citing an illicit market. Provinces like Nova Scotia and Quebec have implemented flavor bans, proving effective in reducing youth vaping. Health experts warn of a growing nicotine addiction crisis among young Canadians due to appealing flavors. Michel collaborates with provinces to address the issue, highlighting the need for a comprehensive national ban.
May 07, 2026 by worldvapersalliance.com
Canada's Public Health Groups Are Failing Smokers
The influence of private funding on global public health policy is becoming an increasingly debated issue. Analysis highlights how large-scale philanthropic investment can shape not only funding priorities but also the direction of international health strategies. In the case of Michael Bloomberg, billions of dollars have been channelled into tobacco control initiatives through a network of interconnected organisations. This structure is argued to amplify a single policy perspective across multiple institutions, including programmes linked to the World Health Organization. Critics suggest that such influence may limit debate around harm reduction approaches and alternative nicotine products. The discussion raises broader questions about transparency, accountability and the role of private actors in shaping global health agendas.
April 27, 2026 by westernstandard.news
BENOIT: Canada’s government-funded anti-vaping lobby is misleading the public on youth vaping
Criticism is mounting over how youth vaping trends are being presented in Canada’s public debate. Recent commentary argues that government-funded advocacy groups are misrepresenting data to justify stricter regulations on vaping products. Official figures from Health Canada indicate that youth vaping rates have actually declined significantly in recent years. At the same time, campaigners continue to push for flavour bans, which critics say could undermine harm reduction efforts for adult smokers. The controversy raises broader concerns about whether public health messaging is being driven by evidence or by institutional and political interests.
April 15, 2026 by regulatorwatch.com
Taxed To Fail | Canada’s Vape Policies Fuel Smoking & Crime | RegWatch
Canada’s approach to vaping regulation is facing growing scrutiny as critics point to unintended consequences of recent policies. Increasing taxes and restrictions on vaping products are argued to be reshaping consumer behavior rather than eliminating nicotine use. Some analyses suggest that tighter rules may be linked to a decline in legal vape sales alongside a rise in cigarette consumption. There are also concerns about the expansion of illicit markets and associated criminal activity driven by high taxation and limited access to regulated alternatives. The situation is fuelling debate over whether current policies are achieving public health goals or producing counterproductive outcomes.
April 15, 2026 by regulatorwatch.com
Taxed To Fail | Canada’s Vape Policies Fuel Smoking & Crime | RegWatch
Canada’s approach to vaping regulation is facing growing scrutiny as critics point to unintended consequences of recent policies. Increasing taxes and restrictions on vaping products are argued to be reshaping consumer behavior rather than eliminating nicotine use. Some analyses suggest that tighter rules may be linked to a decline in legal vape sales alongside a rise in cigarette consumption. There are also concerns about the expansion of illicit markets and associated criminal activity driven by high taxation and limited access to regulated alternatives. The situation is fuelling debate over whether current policies are achieving public health goals or producing counterproductive outcomes.
April 15, 2026 by regulatorwatch.com
Taxed To Fail | Canada’s Vape Policies Fuel Smoking & Crime | RegWatch
Canada’s approach to vaping regulation is facing growing scrutiny as critics point to unintended consequences of recent policies. Increasing taxes and restrictions on vaping products are argued to be reshaping consumer behavior rather than eliminating nicotine use. Some analyses suggest that tighter rules may be linked to a decline in legal vape sales alongside a rise in cigarette consumption. There are also concerns about the expansion of illicit markets and associated criminal activity driven by high taxation and limited access to regulated alternatives. The situation is fuelling debate over whether current policies are achieving public health goals or producing counterproductive outcomes.
April 08, 2026 by internationalcbc.com
Canadian Alcohol Sales Continue To Decline While Cannabis Sales...
Canada is experiencing a notable shift in consumption patterns, with alcohol sales continuing to decline while cannabis sales move in the opposite direction. Recent data show that alcohol revenue fell by around 1.6% in the 2024–2025 fiscal year, marking the fourth consecutive annual drop despite rising prices. At the same time, legal cannabis sales increased to approximately $5.5 billion, reflecting steady growth in the regulated market, although at a slower pace than in previous years. This divergence highlights a broader change in consumer behaviour, with Canadians—particularly younger demographics—gradually reducing alcohol consumption while exploring alternative products. The trend is contributing to a wider discussion about evolving social norms, public health awareness, and how regulatory frameworks are adapting to shifting demand across different substance categories.
April 08, 2026 by internationalcbc.com
Canadian Alcohol Sales Continue To Decline While Cannabis Sales...
Canada is experiencing a notable shift in consumption patterns, with alcohol sales continuing to decline while cannabis sales move in the opposite direction. Recent data show that alcohol revenue fell by around 1.6% in the 2024–2025 fiscal year, marking the fourth consecutive annual drop despite rising prices. At the same time, legal cannabis sales increased to approximately $5.5 billion, reflecting steady growth in the regulated market, although at a slower pace than in previous years. This divergence highlights a broader change in consumer behaviour, with Canadians—particularly younger demographics—gradually reducing alcohol consumption while exploring alternative products. The trend is contributing to a wider discussion about evolving social norms, public health awareness, and how regulatory frameworks are adapting to shifting demand across different substance categories.
April 02, 2026 by substack.com
Nicotine Isn’t the Enemy. Smoking Is.
Growing debate is emerging around how nicotine is perceived in public health discussions, with some commentators arguing that it is often wrongly identified as the primary cause of smoking-related harm. The central claim is that it is the act of combustion—burning tobacco—that produces the vast majority of toxic chemicals responsible for disease, rather than nicotine itself. This perspective suggests that conflating nicotine with smoking risks misleading the public and obscuring the potential role of lower-risk alternatives in reducing harm. Proponents argue that clearer communication around relative risks could support more effective strategies to reduce smoking-related illness. At the same time, the issue remains contentious, particularly given nicotine’s addictive nature and concerns about uptake among non-smokers. The discussion reflects a broader divide in public health between precautionary approaches and harm reduction strategies.