TORONTO, Nov. 28, 2008 – Ontario nurses are asking the provincial government not to delay in banning the flavoured cigarillos that are designed to lure young people to the addiction.

Bill 124 would amend the Smoke-Free Ontario Act to ban the sale of flavoured and individually-sold cigarillos that are targeted to children. Yesterday, the bill passed Second Reading in the Legislature and has been referred to the Standing Committee on General Government.

“Smoking is a critical public health issue,” says Irmajean Bajnok, Director of International Affairs and Best Practice Guidelines Programs at the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO). “More than 47,000 Canadians, aged 35 or older, are estimated to die every year as a direct result of smoking. The last thing we want is to have a product like flavoured cigarillos on the market that encourages young people to take up this dangerous habit.”

Registered nurses play an important role in smoking cessation. The RNAO has developed an evidence-based best practice guideline called Integrating Smoking Cessation Into Daily Nursing Practice which gives nurses the evidence and information they need to advise, counsel and coach smokers. Public health nurses in a number of communities are using RNAO’s guidelines to interview and assist smokers.

RNAO’s ambitious Best Practice Guidelines Program, funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care was launched in 1999 to provide the best available evidence for patient care across a wide spectrum of health-care areas. The 36 guidelines developed to date are a substantive contribution towards building excellence in Ontario’s health-care system. They are used by nurses and other health care professionals across Canada and abroad. To learn more about RNAO’s Nursing Best Guidelines Program or to view these resources please visit http://rnao.ca.

The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario is the professional association representing registered nurses in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has lobbied for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses’ contribution to shaping the health-care system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public they serve.