Chris Puglia
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 24/03) - Do you want a territorial ban on smoking?

Or, are less stringent restrictions the key to solving the NWT's high tobacco use rates?

A new discussion paper released Wednesday is giving territorial residents the chance to voice their opinions on the topic.

Dr. Andre Corriveau, chief medical officer for the NWT said tobacco use is one of the foremost concerns in the North.

"I have been talking about tobacco issues probably from the first day of my appointment," he said.

According to a 2001 GNWT report on tobacco use titled Smoke Alarm smoking rates in the NWT are the highest in Canada.

In its key findings the report states that nearly half of NWT residents smoke.

"When we released the Smoke Alarm report two years ago a quarter of our deaths were related to tobacco," said Corriveau.

"It's costing us $10 million a year that's money we can't spend on other social programs."

It is for those reason that the GNWT came out with a tobacco action plan aimed at reducing tobacco use in the territory.

Corriveau said in a public address on Wednesday that he expects that goal will be achieved.

One goal is to drop tobacco use rates down to at least the national average.

In order to achieve that Corriveau said it is important to have consistent territorial legislation, which doesn't currently exist.

"There is a real part to be played in there for the government," said Corriveau.

The paper will gauge public support on legislative possibilities.

Some options include raising the legal purchase and removing tobacco products from public view in stores.

"We'll be collecting feedback over the next couple of months," said Corriveau.

"They are all ideas we would like to put in, but we need to address ourselves with reality and see where people are at.

"There is no use doing something the public is not going to comply with."

Corriveau believes people are ready for tougher laws on tobacco use in the NWT.

"I'm starting to see a real difference in attitude," he said.

More and more people are making their homes smoke-free and efforts are being made to de-normalize tobacco use, according to Corriveau.

Consistent legislation would further that perception, giving smaller communities something to work with. That, Corriveau said, makes tobacco reduction sustainable.

Only four of the 28 Northern communities have any form of tobacco bylaws.

Advice from the discussion will be looked at in the fall and will be among the first orders of business for the new assembly.

"We promise we will listen," said Corriveau.