Smoke Free Kids Camps - Ontario
In May 2006 The Smoke Free Ontario Act was enacted to protect the health of Ontario residents by prohibiting smoking in all enclosed workplaces and enclosed public places. However, this law fails to fully protect our children.
Did you know that the vast majority of Residential Summer Camps in Ontario allow and enable youth smoking? For example many incorporate smoke breaks for their staff after meals and some even go so far as to provide "Butt huts" to keep their smokers comfortable.
Please keep in mind that the vast majority of the counsellors are teenagers. Counsellors have incredible influence over our children because they are role models. We want their impact on our children to be positive. We also want our young counsellors to be safe and not subject to a work environment that serves to further reinforce a deadly addiction.
90% of people who smoke start under the age of 18. Tobacco companies target our children. 1 out of 2 smokers will die from a smoking related illness.
Keep your children safe.
The only smoke your children should see at camp should be from a campfire.
To The Ontario Minister of Health
We the undersigned would like provincial legislation put into place to further protect our children from the harms of smoking.
We would like the Smoke- Free Ontario Act amended to include a workplace smoking ban at all summer camps for children across the province.
