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Prevention & Advocacy

Protecting Lung Health Before It’s at Risk

At Lung Saskatchewan, prevention is powerful. We fight for cleaner air, stronger policies, and healthier futures through bold, evidence-based advocacy.

Tobacco Control
Tobacco remains the leading cause of lung disease. We advocate for smoke-free spaces, higher tobacco taxes, and youth protections — holding the tobacco industry to account and supporting people who want to quit.

Vaping Prevention
Vaping is fueling a new wave of nicotine addiction — especially among youth. We’re leading efforts to restrict access, expose industry tactics, and prevent long-term harm.

Radon Awareness
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada — and often goes undetected. We provide education, home testing support, and push for policies that make radon mitigation a public health priority.

Comprehensive Lung Health Protection
We also advocate on wildfire smoke, indoor air quality, infectious disease prevention, and the social factors that shape lung health — especially for communities facing systemic barriers.

Lung health begins with prevention. We’re building a future where everyone has the right to breathe clean, safe air.

 

We Advocate That a Portion of Tobacco Settlement Funds Be Directed Towards Prevention, Education, and Current Health Care Initiatives

Lung Saskatchewan is urging the Government of Saskatchewan to direct a small portion of the funds from the Tobacco Settlement towards a comprehensive tobacco and vaping reduction framework that includes prevention, education, enforcement, and support of current patients. While provincial governments may see this as a revenue windfall, and an opportunity to reduce debt, these funds come with great burden and responsibility from decades of harm and drain on the health care system, caused by the tobacco industry.  

 

Lungs Healthy on one side and sick on the other from tobacco
Youth4Change members at parliment

We Advocate to Reduce the Impact of Tobacco and Vaping on Saskatchewan's Health Care System, Economy, and People

Commercial tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death, claiming nearly 8 million lives globally and 46,000 in Canada each year—including 1,500 in Saskatchewan (18% of all deaths). Lung Saskatchewan and Youth4Change are working with government to implement evidence-based policies that protect residents from nicotine addiction through regulation, prevention, education, and cessation. These measures also aim to ease pressure on the healthcare system, reduce economic impact, and hold the tobacco industry accountable.

We Advocate to Increase Radon Awareness, Testing, and Improve Mitigation Rates in Saskatchewan

Radon is a radioactive gas that is created naturally as a byproduct of uranium breaking down in the ground. Radon is invisible, and it has no odour or taste. Every home has some level of radon, and the only way to know how much radon is in a home is to conduct a long-term radon test. Recent studies show that ONE in THREE homes in Saskatchewan have high levels of radon. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Lung Saskatchewan is advocating at the provincial level to improve awareness, testing, and mitigation of homes.

House showing how radon can enter the home.
reduce radon save lives.

We Advocate to the Federal Government to Protect All Canadians from Radon

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking and accounts for 16% of all lung cancer deaths in Canada. Radon is a contributing factor in the deaths of approximately 3,360 Canadians each year, which is more than 1 in every 100 deaths in the country. While 10.3 million homes in Canada (17.8% of all homes) have radon levels above Health Canada's radon guideline of 200 Bq/m, less than 10% of Canadians have tested their homes for radon. Furthermore, only 56% of Canadians have ever heard of radon gas. These statistics highlight the urgent need for increased public awareness and education campaigns in Canada on radon.

Youth4Change Groups Advocate for Legislative Changes Regarding Vaping

Over the past decade, we have seen an increase in vaping product use especially among youth and young adults. Youth4Change is working to make sure that youth understand the health risks of vaping and are advocating to the government to regulate vaping more closely. We are working hard to make changes to Protect all Saskatchewan Kids

Youth4Change Youth Speaking at Parliment