Manitoba offers freebies to help smokers kick habit

The Manitoba government is offering more free nicotine-replacement products for people who want to quit smoking.

The government says up to 6,000 people will receive eight week's worth of free gum, patches, lozenges and other products.

Healthy Living and Seniors Minister Deanne Crothers says details on how people can apply for the products will be announced in the spring.

The government has already offered similar programs, including a pilot project at a Winnipeg hospital in 2013.

The new program is part of a flurry of pre-election announcements by the NDP government in advance of the April 19 provincial election.

The government scheduled eight announcements for Thursday alone.

Under provincial law, the government cannot make announcements 90 days before the election — which means any announcements have to be squeezed in before next Tuesday.