Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of illness and premature death in Canada. The provision of health-related information on tobacco products is recognized as one of the best approaches to inform users of the health risks of tobacco use.

If Canada adopts new regulations on the labeling of packages of cigarettes and little cigars, Health Canada estimates that the country could soon begin to save billions in health care costs because more Canadians will be quitting smoking, or not starting in the first place.

New Tobacco Products will be have 75 percent the warnings of tobacco dangers. There will be 12 graphic new images for packages and 8 full-color messages on the inside of the packages.

According to the agency a cost-benefit analysis indicates that the savings for Canadians are not simply health-savings as well as large monetary savings. The studies show that graphic labeling does convince smokers to quit.

"These benefits would accrue from the reduced morbidity and mortality effects on former smokers who successfully quit," the information in the Gazette says. "Other potential beneficial impacts include reduced exposure to second-hand smoke,

reduced loss of life and damage from cigarette-induced fires, and improved quality of life of former smokers." The Gazette said these ancillary benefits have not been included in the cost-benefit analysis.

There is no other country that requires labeling on the inside of cigarette packages and health-advocacy groups have spoken in favor of this Health Canada innovation. Overall these new proposals would make Canada the toughest on smoking in the world. "The overall package warning system is excellent,": Rob Cunningham, of the Canadian Cancer Society, told the Vancouver Sun.

One of the graphic photos included would be of Barb Tarbox, who died of smoking-related lung cancer and who was in the later stages of her life an anti-smoking crusader; Tarbox is shown looking emaciated on her death bed in 2003.

The new proposals would also include help for Canadians who want to quit smoking. There will be a tool-free quit-line for Canadians who want help quitting and that number will be included on the packaging.

The agency is now asking for the opinions of Canadians on the proposed changes, with information on how to do so at the Health Canada website. They will be accepting opinions on their proposals from interested parties up until May 5 of 2011.

The use of tobacco products, Health Canada points out, "is the leading preventable cause of illness and premature death in Canada."