Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada. This year 14 people will be diagnosed with cancer daily in Saskatchewan and seven people will die from the disease. The primary prevention of cancer, or stopping cancer before it starts, has the greatest potential to reduce the burden of cancer. The Canadian Cancer Society is working hard to reduce the incidence of preventable cancers by advocating for healthy public policies.
This spring at Relay for Life events around the province, more than 5,000 people told us that they are concerned about tobacco use, the cosmetic use of pesticides and indoor tanning. Prior to and during the upcoming election campaign, we would like to make voters aware of where each party stands on these three specific issues that can have a dramatic impact on cancer incidence.
We have provided three questions to each of the political parties that are directly related to our issues. The questions we asked are below and we will have the responses posted mid-September.
| SURVEY RESULTS | ||
| PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE (PC) PARTY |
SURVEY RESULTS ONLINE |
DOWNLOAD PDF |
| NEW DEMOCRATS (NDP) | SURVEY RESULTS ONLINE |
DOWNLOAD PDF |
| LIBERAL PARTY | Survey results coming soon. | |
| SASKATCHEWAN PARTY |
Not available | DOWNLOAD PDF |
| GREEN PARTY | SURVEY RESULTS ONLINE |
DOWNLOAD PDF |
- Tobacco has long been recognized as a major cause of cancer, accounting for about 30 per cent of cancer deaths. Every year tobacco kills more than 1,500 Saskatchewan residents and costs the provincial economy more than $1.1 billion. Despite progress, Saskatchewan still has the highest smoking rate in Canada. This year, the provincial government will collect approximately $250 million in tobacco taxes. Only $1 million will be spent on the provincial tobacco control strategy and that money is only guaranteed until March 2012. The Canadian Cancer Society is urging the next provincial government to increase funding for the tobacco control strategy.
What are your comments on the current provincial tobacco control strategy Building a Healthier Saskatchewan and what is the position of the your party with respect to its funding?
- Five provinces, 50 municipalities or nearly 27 million Canadians have some protection against the cosmetic use of pesticides (chemicals to keep lawns and gardens pretty). Saskatchewan has no protection. Studies have linked pesticide use to increased rates of leukemia, colon, lung, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, prostate, and brain cancer (in adults and children). A 2008 Ipsos Reid poll found that two thirds of Saskatchewan residents believe pesticides pose a threat to the environment, children and their own health. The Canadian Cancer Society is urging the next provincial government to phase out the sale and use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes.
What is the position of the your party with respect to phasing out the sale and use of cosmetic pesticides in the province?
- Researchers have determined a direct link between using indoor tanning equipment and skin cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a division of the World Health Organization, has classified UV rays from indoor tanning devices as a class A carcinogen, in the same category as asbestos and tobacco. Melanoma – the most serious type of skin cancer – is the third most common cancer among 15–29 year olds. Exposure to UV radiation before the age of 35 increases the risk of melanoma by 75 per cent. Saskatchewan residents use indoor tanning equipment more than other Canadians. The Canadian Cancer Society is urging the next provincial government to restrict youth under the age of 18 from using indoor tanning equipment.
What is the position of the your party with respect to restricting youth under the age of 18 from using indoor tanning equipment?
Reporting of asbestos in all public buildings needs to be a mandatory part of the online registry in Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan is the first province in Canada to set up an on-line registry for reporting asbestos in public buildings; however there are no legal requirements for schools, health care facilities, and other public places to submit a list of their buildings to that registry.
With your support, bill (27) 604 would change that. Bill 604 has received second reading.
Read more...
Funding needs to be increased to the initiatives under the province's Tobacco Control Strategy. Read more...
There is serious concern about the use of non-essential or cosmetic pesticides on private and public spaces. Read more...
There is no safe way to get a tan and indoor tanning has been declared a known carcinogen that causes cancer. Read more...
