Warning labels are an important part of tobacco control, but the Harper government’s decision to increase the size of warning labels from 50% to 75% of the package is woefully inadequate.

If the government is really serious about the health of Canadians, it should legislate “plain packaging.” This means the warning labels would occupy the entire surface of the package, together with prominently displayed quit line phone numbers and web addresses. The tobacco company’s name would be displayed only in plain text in one location — on the bottom of the package. By removing any area for corporate identity, including the inside of the package, the tobacco companies’ ability to promote their dangerous product will be effectively reduced.

While we await this simple and crucial step, 37,000 Canadians die from smoking every year.