A government-commissioned report is calling on Ontario to raise taxes on cigarettes, ban anyone under 21 from buying them and impose a levy on tobacco companies.
The recommendations come from an expert panel that suggests ways to reduce the percentage of Ontarians who smoke from 17 per cent to less than five per cent by 2035 -- a target identified by the federal government.
The report says Ontario has the second lowest price for cigarettes in Canada -- $102.40 for a carton -- and it should be at least doubled by regularly increasing taxes.
It also calls on the government to impose an annual levy on tobacco companies and reduce the number of retail outlets selling tobacco from the current 10,000.
To prevent young people from taking up smoking in the first place, the experts suggest raising the minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21 and making media productions such as movies that include smoking ineligible for public subsidies.
Health Minister Eric Hoskins says he's looking at the recommendations and whether they are feasible.
