January 16, 2012 8:00 AMMcGuinty Government Committed to Building Smoke-Free CommunitiesDuring the 35th annual National Non-Smoking Week, Ontario is celebrating the progress made to create a healthier province and is reiterating its commitment to smoke-free communities.Since 2005, millions of Ontarians have breathed cleaner air thanks to the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy. Under the strategy:

• Smoking is now prohibited in enclosed public spaces and workplaces;
• children are now protected from second-hand smoke in cars;
• Cigarette "power walls" have been banned in stores; and 1.37 million Ontarians have received the supports they need to help them quit smoking.

 Last spring, the government renewed its commitment to a smoke-free Ontario. Smokers will get more help to quit through new and enhanced supports, including increased access to nicotine replacement therapy and planned expansion of cessation counselling in healthcare settings and pharmacies.Helping people quit smoking and protecting Ontarians from second-hand smoke is a key part of the McGuinty government's plan to keep the province healthy and builds on its commitment to create a smoke-free Ontario.QUICK FACTS

•  The percentage of Ontarians who smoke has declined from 24.5 per cent in 2000 to 18.6 per cent in 2009.
• Each year, tobacco claims 13,000 lives in Ontario - equivalent to 36 lives every day.
• Tobacco-related disease costs Ontario's health care system $1.93 billion in direct health care costs.
• Recently, the Superior Court of Justice made a decision which paves the way for Ontario's $50-billion lawsuit against a group of 14 tobacco companies for health-care costs to move forward.
• Approximately 62 per cent of adult smokers intend to quit smoking within the next six months; thirty-two per cent intend to quit smoking within 30 days. Forty-nine per cent of Ontario smokers make a serious attempt to quit smoking over the course of a year.