Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today is Weedless Wednesday. Every year during National Non-Smoking Week, people are encouraged to give up tobacco for a day on Weedless Wednesday.
We hope that, not only will people give up nicotine for the day, but that they will also take the time to think about how they are harming themselves, their family and their community by smoking. We all know about the negative effects of second hand smoke, and we are all aware of the health costs the system incurs as a result of cigarettes and other types of tobacco.
Some of the trends we see, with regard to tobacco use in the north, are very disturbing. Northerners are some of the heaviest smokers in the country, and some of the heaviest smokers in the north are our young people. The message I want to share with our youth on Weedless Wednesday, is that tobacco is harmful and it is addictive. We need to ensure that everyone understands the links between tobacco and lung disease, cancer, and other diseases.
Mr. Speaker, all of us know someone who has struggled with the burden of trying to quit smoking. Today and everyday, we should take the steps necessary to make sure our young people never start smoking, and we should continue to provide assistance and support to friends and family members who are trying to quit. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all tobacco users to take advantage of Weedless Wednesday. Stopping for one day is the first step towards giving up for good. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.