Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in Ontario. It kills 13,000 smokers and another 3,000 non-smokers each year. Tobacco smoke has negative health impacts on people of all ages: unborn babies, infants, children, adolescents, adults and seniors.

The Tobacco-Free Living web section divides information into three areas; quitting tobacco-use, the prevention of youth starting to use tobacco and the law that protects people from the harms of second-hand smoke. As of 2010, the current smoking rate amongst Canadians (15 years and older) was 17 per cent, although as many as 34 per cent of them would like to quit smoking.