News Release
From Public Health Agency of Canada
Picking Up the PACE program addresses risk factors for chronic disease related to smoking
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and premature death in Canada. One Canadian dies from a smoking-related illness every 12 minutes, and smoking-related illnesses claim the lives of more than 45,000 Canadians per year. That’s why the Government of Canada is committed to reducing tobacco use in Canada to less than 5% by 2035.
Today, during National Non-Smoking Week, on behalf of the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, Robert Oliphant, Member of Parliament, announced funding for Picking Up the PACE (Promoting and Accelerating Change through Empowerment) – a smoking cessation resource program for health practitioners provided through the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
The program provides online courses for health practitioners as well as tools they can use with patients to help address multiple risk factors for smoking, such as excess alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, stress and poor sleep. The program builds on CAMH’s Training Enhancement in Applied Cessation Counselling and Health Project, which trains health practitioners on how to promote healthy living habits that can help Canadians decrease tobacco use. PACE is also supported by the Medical Psychiatry Alliance, a unique Canadian health care partnership between CAMH, The Hospital for Sick Children, Trillium Health Partners and the University of Toronto.