Dr. Sonia Johnson

Director General of the Tobacco Control Directorate

Health Canada

Biography

Dr. Sonia Johnson is the Director General of the Tobacco Control Directorate at Health Canada. In this role, she is responsible for leading Canada’s Tobacco Strategy, which aims to reduce tobacco use to less than 5% by 2035 using bold and innovative measures to help people quit tobacco while preventing a new generation from nicotine addiction. This includes effective regulation of vaping products under the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act, to prevent youth use of these products while maintaining legal access for adults to switch completely from tobacco to vaping. During her 20 year career at Health Canada, Dr. Johnson has managed several science and research teams, and has emphasized the importance of providing the scientific evidence base to inform government policies, regulations and public education and outreach initiatives. She has a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Ottawa