In 2006, the Province of Ontario passed the Smoke Free Ontario Act, a prevention, cessation, and protection strategy designed to reduce smoking within enclosed workplaces. Recognizing the need for resources, tools, and other supports to ease the transition brought about by the new legislation, the provincial government approached Public Interest to study the issues surrounding the implementation of this legislation within institutions that serve senior citizens.
Our team assessed the resource needs of long-term care homes, community care access centres, and seniors’ groups, as well as some of the challenges and resistance these facilities faced in complying with the new legislation. Working with the Ministry of Health Promotion and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, we developed a strategy to provide relevant training and supports to the staff of these institutions.
By making this process responsive to the needs and sensitivities of the participants, Public Interest helped build their commitment to the transition process and to this sector’s ability to put the provincial policies into action.
