Smoking rate tops in country at 18.4%

Newfoundland and Labrador has the highest proportion of smokers in Canada at 18.4 per cent, according to data released Wednesday.

The Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey found 13 per cent of the national population aged 15 and older were smokers in 2015 — down from 14.6 per cent in 2013.

Nova Scotia has the second-highest rate in Canada at 17.8 per cent.