Saskatchewan smoking rate tops among provinces: StatsCan

Saskatchewan leads the provinces in per-capita puffers, a new report says.

According to Statistics Canada's Community Health Surveyreleased Wednesday, 22.8 per cent of people age 12 and over in Saskatchewan smoke tobacco.

That representsabout 195,779 people in 2013 equivalent to a Regina-sized city.

That rate is higher than the other nine provinces, although lower than the rates in the three territories.

Canada-wide, 19.3 per cent of 12-and-overs smoke.The lowest provincial rate was in B.C.: 16.2 per cent.