The summit aims to train future young tobacco control advocates in the areas of social policy, skill building and knowledge transfer. The summit comes just a few weeks after Ontario legislators filed Bill 69, the Smoke-Free Ontario Amendment Act 2008 which called for a prohibition on lighting up in cars where there are children below 16.
Shannon Hindley, co-chair of the steering committee of Take! Action, said in a statement, quoted by Newswire, "Bill 69 demonstrates that the Ontario government cares about giving Ontario youth a voice, especially one from the backseat."
Beginning May 31, tobacco retail display would be banned from the province. It would also mark the second anniversary of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act.
Margarett Best, the province's Minister of Health Promotion, will attend the last day of the summit, being held at the London Convention Center.
At least in the area of tobacco control there is some progress going on in Ontario. However, according to the yearly Ontario Health Quality Council released Tuesday, less than 50 percent of Ontarians with chronic ailments get the health care they require.
The report said 80 percent of Ontario residents over 65 have at least one chronic disease, while 70 percent have two or more. Almost 8,000 Ontarians die yearly from diabetes, coronary artery ailment and other chronic diseases.
Dr. Ben Chan, chief executive officer of the Ontario Health Quality Council, in an article at the Toronto Star, wrote, "Ontario must find a way to meet the chronic disease challenge. This means, in part, redesigning how health care is delivered to encourage teamwork, regular monitoring of health care and faster access when patients need care. The Ontario government has promised to introduce a chronic disease strategy, beginning with diabetes. That strategy is badly needed and we await its introduction and implementation."
