The Lloydminster Bobcats are proud to have partnered with the Lloydminster Action For Tobacco Reduction's “Flavour… Gone” campaign against chewing tobacco.
On September 13th, players Matt Marcinew and Travis Wellman along with Business Manager Malcolm Radke were in attendance for the campaign's grand finale. More than 4000 postcards were presented to the Honourable Leon Benoit, MP for Vegreville-Wainwright. The postcards urge the federal government to ban the sale of all flavoured tobacco products, including spit tobacco and cigarillo’s.
“With such high usage rates among hockey players in the area, it was important for us to partner with the Lloydminster Action For Tobacco Reduction to send the right message to young hockey players,” says Radke. “Our team has a strict policy against chewing tobacco at any team events, so we felt that getting involved with this campaign was a natural fit for us.”
“We are very encouraged by the support this campaign has received. We have had than 4000 postcards signed from over 20 different communities in Alberta & Saskatchewan. Encouraging the federal government to pass this legislation is so important to our community. The number of young people using these products is very concerning.” says Bonita Brick, Member of Lloydminster Action for Tobacco Reduction. A recent release by Health Canada (TRRS Section 13) showed that 127,490 Kg of spit tobacco was sold in Alberta in 2011 which accounted for 40% of all spit tobacco sales in Canada. Saskatchewan and Manitoba had combined sales of 55,599 Kg of spit tobacco, 17.5% of all spit tobacco sales in Canada.
“Once the postcards are presented to Leon Benoit, we will be sharing the number of signed cards we received with Gerry Ritz, MP for Battlefords-Lloydminster along with our MLA’s so they can be aware of the support they have for a complete ban and the urgency of the issue” says Brick. “We will also continue to support the postcard campaign that is happening in Alberta encouraging provincial legislation banning the sale of flavoured tobacco within that province.”
Individuals interested in taking action on the issue are encouraged to write a letter of support to the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, federal Minister of Health.
Lloydminster Action for Tobacco Reduction is a community based action team that is focusing on the use of spit tobacco within our community. Their partners include Prairie North Health Region, Alberta Health Services, Canadian Cancer Society Alberta/NWT Division and Canadian Cancer Society SK Division.
Lloydminster Action for Tobacco Reduction “Flavour … Gone” campaign goal is to engage the support of Canadians to help keep Canada’s kids tobacco free and ask the government to ban the sale of all flavoured tobacco products in Canada. This can be achieved through an amendment to the federal Bill C 32: Cracking Down on Tobacco Marketing Aimed at Youth Act.