New, bigger, more graphic warnings on cigarette packages are a victory for a family who has been fighting to have their loved one's photo on the labels.

The late Barb Tarbox, an anti-smoking activist who died of lung cancer in 2003, will be front and centre of the new warnings. A photo of the dying woman – a lifelong smoker - will be one of several graphic images used as warnings on tobacco products.

Her family is cheering this announcement, made by the federal government Thursday morning.

"It's been a long time coming," said Tarbox's daughter Mackenzie Tarbox, adding she's proud her mom's message will continue through the use of her images.

"It's got good shock factor. And if it shocks me, it's going to shock a few people," said Tarbox's husband Pat Tarbox. "Hopefully it shocks them into quitting or to not start."

Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced the new regulations Thursday morning.

"Canadian and international research has shown that to be effective, health warnings on tobacco packages must be noticeable and memorable. They must also be believable and relevant," she said at a news conference in Ottawa.

The new warning labels will be bigger, covering 75% of the cigarette package – up from 50%.

There will be 16 different pictures in all and they will be rotated through the packages. The new warnings will also include some new information on tobacco-related diseases – like bladder cancer - that had not been considered in the past, Aglukkaq said.

The current warnings have been on packages for 10 years and experts say it's time they were updated.

Some Calgarians who were shown the images were unsure whether these larger more graphic images would make be effective in deterring smoking.

But experts seem to think they will help, especially if the photos are updated regularly and the quit-smoking hotline and website are right on the cigarette package.

Cigarette companies are not happy and say the industry pays for the cost of the new design. A spokesman at Imperial Tobacco also says for the government to take control of 75% of the package labelling is abusive.

The new labels are expected to appear on cigarette packages some time in the new year.