Cigarette ads in magazines and newspapers could go up in a puff of smoke if a new bill introduced in Parliament this week by Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq becomes law. According to a story in today's Globe and Mail, the bill would "close a loophole which allowed tobacco ads in publications with an adult readership of at least 85 per cent."

Tobacco ads almost completely disappeared from print publications after the federal government passed the Tobacco Act in 1997. In June 2007, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the Act, but also clarified that: 1) Any cigarette advertising that contains only “factual” information would be considered acceptable, and 2) All cigarette advertising must refrain from particularly appealing to youth. (Click here for our original story on the decision.)

Leading National Advertising Canada (LNA) tracked 88.4 pages of advertising for "smoking materials" in 2008, up from12.67 pages in 2007. This advertising was worth an estimated $1.3 million.