Youth Action Alliance Cancelled

A major tobacco prevention initiative is coming to an end, effective August 31st.
The Ministry of Health has notified the Northwestern Health Unit that the popular and effective Youth Action Alliance program is being cancelled.
Tobacco Strategy Manager Jennifer McKibbon says no reason was given for the decision.
For the past 4-years, the program has done major work in convincing kids to stay away from tobacco products.
The Alliance was responsible for a number of changes including Federal amendments to the Tobacco Act to ban flavours in some tobacco products.
McKibbon says the move will result in job losses.
The YAA program employs 2-full time and 1-part time adult staff as well as 16-part time youth staff in 6-Northwestern Ontario Communities.