We had been talking about nominating Dad for the Order of Canada for some time, but with the cancer diagnosis, we realized we, like Dad, had no time to lose. Unfortunately, it takes three years for the Chancellery of Honours to review each application, which was not enough time. Here is the nomination.

“But what of my dream – to live to see the end to the nicotine epidemic? Whatever progress I have been able to support over my career, going forward my contributions will be fewer in number. It will be up to my friends and colleagues around the world to continue this fight.” – Neil Collishaw, 2023

The reason for the nomination

Neil Collishaw has spearheaded improvements in Canadian and global public health, specifically in reducing tobacco use since the 1980s. He has worked for over four decades in a wide variety of capacities on establishing and supporting public policy to address the global tobacco epidemic. He has worked in the federal government, at the World Health Organization and in the non-profit sector to improve the health of all Canadians. He has devoted his working life and his retirement years to address tobacco use in all its forms, and has proposed and enacted innovative solutions to improve public health. A passionate advocate, he has had a lengthy and accomplished career that has resulted in improved health outcomes for all Canadians.

Neil would be the first to say that addressing the tobacco epidemic is a collaborative effort. He has worked tirelessly and collaboratively for almost half a century to create widespread social consensus on tobacco that has ultimately steered policy actions at provincial, territorial, federal and global levels to protect everyone from the harmful effects of tobacco.

Health Canada years

In the 1980s, he worked at Health Canada to draft the Tobacco Products Control Act that created tobacco advertising bans, increased taxation on tobacco products and forced tobacco companies to prominently display warnings on tobacco products. He was instrumental in creating stronger restrictions on the purchase and use of tobacco, especially by minors. He served as an expert witness in the legal assaults on the Tobacco Products Control Act. While the law was overturned, the societal consensus against tobacco that had developed in the meantime meant that the replacement Tobacco Act was swiftly passed in 1997. The societal consensus that he had spent two decades building overcame the armies of lawyers deployed by the tobacco corporations. 

The World Health Organization

In the 1990s, he worked at the World Health Organization in Geneva and promoted the adoption of strong and comprehensive strategies around the world. He was part of a team that initiated discussions towards establishing a global tobacco treaty, which bore fruit in 2005 with the adoption of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Almost every country today is a signatory. Creating societal consensus in Canada is an almost impossible task, but creating global consensus is unimaginable, unless you are Neil Collishaw and you are working to curb the tobacco epidemic.

Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada

Upon returning to Canada, Neil did not slow down, but joined the team at Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada as a consultant then research director, and in retirement, a volunteer. At this small non-profit, he wrote countless research articles, news releases, fact sheets, reports and briefing notes to educate Canadians, policy makers and lawmakers.

Heather Crowe

In 2002, he travelled across Canada with Heather Crowe on her campaign to protect workers from second hand smoke, resulting in every province, territory and the federal government to legislate smoke-free public places and workplaces by 2009. Neil was part of this landmark campaign that reduced the tobacco exposure of all Canadians and especially hospitality workers to almost zero within seven years. This “overnight change” was built on decades of tireless policy work, legal battles, research, and societal consensus-building.

Fighting Big Tobacco

Neil did not rest there, but next advised federal lawyers in defending the Tobacco Act to a unanimous victory at the Supreme Court in 2007, and advised in a class action suit to defend injured smokers at the Quebec Court of Appeal in 2019. Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada continues to sound the alarm on the harms of vaping and the rising nicotine addiction levels, especially among youth. 

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

He has built networks of public health advocates dedicated to addressing the tobacco epidemic across Canada and around the world. His respectful and collaborative approach, strongly anchored in research and curiosity, have brought together experts to make changes that seemed impossible. Even after his time at the WHO, he continued to maintain his international contacts and hold governments around the world accountable to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Almost every Canadian today can tell you that Neil Collishaw’s work has had an impact on their lives. When Neil began his work, around 40% of Canadians smoked . Today, that rate is  about 10%. Canadians expect smoke-free workplaces, restaurants and public places. Even as we will continue to suffer from the epidemics of tobacco-caused cancers, heart disease and other ills for the next several decades, we can hope that our children and their children will live healthier lives because of the lifelong dedication of Neil Collishaw.

Neil’s Impact and Legacy

Since 2012, the number of smokers in Canada has continued to drop to 4 million, but Neil cautions us against celebration, noting that almost 2 million Canadians report regular vaping. Added together, this is actually the same number of nicotine users as in the 1960s. The tobacco industry continues to profit from the nicotine addictions of Canadians and Neil continues to advocate for supply-side approaches to stemming the epidemic. He outlined this approach in his 2005 book: Curing the Addiction to Profits: A Supply-Side Approach to Phasing Out Tobacco. Most Canadians see tobacco as an exemplar of successful social change, but Neil continues to look at the root causes of the issue in an effort to protect the health of all.

No Time to Lose

In 2023, at the age of 76 he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of bladder cancer. While a cure is unlikely, he is receiving treatment and hopes to add months or years to his life. Not just to enjoy his retirement, his children and grandchildren, but to also continue the fight against tobacco. Upon his diagnosis, he penned a manifesto “No time to lose” and sent it out to his network of 800 colleagues, public health advocates and supporters around the world. They replied in their hundreds, praising his unfailing dedication to the fight against nicotine addiction. 

Tom Novotny (epidemiologist, San Diego State University) replied that the Framework Convention on Tobacco control was one of Neil’s most important accomplishments and “an incredibly important landmark for all of us who are trying to make a difference.” He also regards Neil as “one of the great champions (whose) dedication has inspired us all.” 

Lesley James (Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada) replied: “I have learned so much from you over the last decade. Thank you for being an incredible mentor and champion of tobacco control. … You have left a tremendous mark on public health and tobacco control. The policies you shaped will serve to protect generations to come. Canada and the world are a better place because of your contributions.”

Résumé

• 1977-1983: Health Canada, Long Range Planning, contributed to the policy document New Perspective on the Health of Canadians, became more focused on tobacco and its health consequences.
• 1975-1985:  Served on board of Centretown Community Health Centre, participated in creation and establishment of the Healthstyles program
• 1984-1991: Health Canada, Health Protection Branch, Tobacco Program. Studied tobacco use in Canada and developed strategies and partnerships to reduce use. Advised minister and Parliament on creating a Tobacco Control Act.
• 1988-1991: Acted as subject advisor to Health Canada lawyers in suit vs tobacco companies.
• 1991-1999:  World Health Organization, Geneva, Director of Tobacco and Alcohol program. Studied worldwide statistics and programs related to tobacco, instrumental in creating the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Assisted New Zealand in creating a Tobacco Act.
• 1999 – 2023 Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada, as a consultant, then as Research Director, then as a volunteer. Prepared research papers, press releases, conferences and public projects to make the public and Parliament aware of many problems with smoking. Other highlights of this role:
  • Raised concerns about vaping, despite public and Health Canada complacency. Maintained international connections and assisted when possible. 
  • 2002-2006 Worked with Heather Crowe on her campaign to protect workers from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, resulting in every jurisdiction legislating smoke-free public places and workplaces by 2009. Produced: Heather Crowe’s Legacy: An Ordinary Canadian’s Extraordinary Gift
  • 2005 Co-author, Curing the Addiction to Profits: A Supply-Side Approach to Phasing Out Tobacco.
  • 2007 – Advised federal lawyers defending the Tobacco Act to a unanimous victory in the Supreme Court
  • 2019 – Closely advised class action lawyers defending injured smokers to a $13 billion settlement by the Quebec Court of Appeal

Honours and Awards:

• 1992: Canadian Public Health Association: Certificate of Merit
• 2004: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Leadership Award in Heart Healthy Policy. Presented to Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada “For extraordinary contribution to heart health policy in Canada”
• 2005: Health Professionals Against Tobacco, World No Tobacco Day Award to World Health Organzation.
• 2005: The World Health Organization Certificate of Appreciation to Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada, “In recognition of outstanding contribution to tobacco Control” 
• 2005: Canadian Public Health Association:Sanofi Pasteur International Award
• 2012: Recognition by Kickass Canadians