OTTAWA, March 7, 2025 — Today at the Ottawa Heart Institute, the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced a new series of initiatives aimed at reducing tobacco-related harm across the country.
Eight new projects will be funded through the Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP), the same program that has funded the Ottawa Heart Institute and partners in four provinces and one territory over the past five years to expand the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation (OMSC), an evidence-based, adaptable approach that integrates smoking cessation treatment into routine healthcare. The initiative reached an additional 60,000 people annually across the country and helped establish regional hubs to support the delivery of evidence-based, clinical nicotine addiction treatment provided by healthcare professionals.
"Smoking cessation treatment must be integrated into routine care for all tobacco users. Expanding the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation, a program developed by the Ottawa Heart Institute, will enable us to help tens of thousands more Canadians reduce or quit smoking,” said Hassan Mir, MD, program chair of the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation and a cardiologist at the Ottawa Heart Institute. “By establishing regional hubs across Canada, we can support healthcare providers and institutions to enhance access to vital smoking cessation services, empowering them to deliver continuous, high-quality patient care.”
“Quitting smoking is one of the best things someone can do to increase life expectancy and improve heart health,” said Rob Beanlands, MD, president and CEO of the Ottawa Heart Institute. “This initiative is a testament to the power of collaboration between healthcare providers, researchers, and community leaders, and it reflects the Ottawa Heart Institute’s ongoing commitment to prevention and improving cardiovascular health for all Canadians.”
For more information, please refer to the press release issued by Health Canada.
To coordinate an interview, please contact the liaison below.
Media contact
Leigh B. Morris
Communications Officer
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
613-316-6409 (cell)
lmorris@ottawaheart.ca
