Alberta’s smoking rate is among the highest in the country. Manitoba has the highest smoking rate in the country at 20.8%, while British Columbia boasts the lowest at just over 14%.

However, new figures suggest fewer adolescents and women are lighting up, with Statistics Canada reporting Thursday, nationally, the number of smokers has dipped from 25% in 1996 to 18% in 2005. Since then, the decline has flattened, prompting some to wonder if anti-smoking campaigns are losing their impact.

Blaming the widespread availability of contraband cigarettes, Rob Cunningham, a senior policy analyst for the Canadian Cancer Society is concerned that percentage remains the same, showing a slowing down of declining smoking rates.

Talking to the Canadian Press from Ottawa, Cunningham said cheap cigarettes i. e. 80 to 90% off, are adversely impacting how fast smoking rates are declining, with contraband tobacco selling for as little as $6 for 200-cigarettes.

Close to a third or 28% of current smokers in Ontario said, in the last six months prior to a 2007 / 2008 survey by the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit, they had recently bought at least one pack of contraband cigarettes.

‘Cheap cigarettes entice young people to start smoking and discourage smokers from quitting,’ said Susan Whelan, CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Ontario Division.

The annual Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey of 20,000 people also suggests, the smoking rate for women aged 25-plus dropped from 18% in 2007 to 15% last year.

Nearly half or 48% of adults aged 20 to 24 and just under one-third or 31% of teens aged 15 to 19 said they had tried little cigars or cigarillos, which come in flavours like peach and candy, coming on the market in the last 10 years or so.

Thirty days before being surveyed, 12% of those in the 20 to 24 e group and 9% of the 15 to 19-year olds had smoked a little cigar or cigarillo.

The Senate already has a bill before it banning the little cigars and cigarillos.

Last year, the government in Alberta banned smoking in all public places and work sites, including putting drastic restrictions on tobacco displays at convenience stores. Effective 1st January 2008, pharmacies and grocery stores carrying pharmaceuticals were prohibited from selling tobacco except in gas stations, mall kiosks or separate enclosed spaces.