Teens that are lighting up in Saskatchewan is more than double the national average. A survey by Health Canada shows that 22 per cent of teens aged 15-19 reportedly smoke, up significantly from the 8 per cent national average.

Some attribute the staggering numbers to a rise in popularity in non-cigarette smoking including, vaping and hookahs that use flavoured shisha, a molasses-based tobacco. Others, including Donna Pasiechnik, Saskatchewan Health Policy Analyst for the Canadian Cancer Society, points towards the lack of action from the provincial government to deter teens from lighting up.

"We know that most smokers start when they are teens and half of those will become lifelong smokers, putting an enormous burden on the health care system and on families," said Pasiechnik. "We're very concerned."

She stated that many other provinces have taken measures to combat smoking rates such as banning smoking within restaurant patios. Although some cities have taken matters into their own hands through local bylaws, it is still something that requires attention at a provincial level.

The lack of legislation can be seen at work when you compare the numbers from the 2011 Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (CTUMS) where 20 per cent of youth aged 15-19 were reported as smokers, compared to the national average at that time of 12 per cent. The difference in the two surveys indicate, while nationally, teen smoking has decreased by 4 per cent, Saskatchewan has increased by 2 per cent.

Pasiechnik states that we seem to be stuck here at home in Saskatchewan with the government dismissing their calls to action for the last decade. The survey also indicated that 75 per cent of Saskatchewan residents were in favour of increasing rules and regulations which would prevent teens from lighting up.

Saskatchewan, according to a survey conducted between October 2016 and June 2017, is the only province who did not have any smoking preventative measures in place.