TORONTO, ON —
The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) welcomes the private member’s bill introduced today by Ontario MPP France Gélinas to reduce youth vaping in Ontario. The bill – the proposed Vaping and Smoking are not for Kids Act – will ban promotion of e-cigarettes, set maximum nicotine levels, restrict flavours, and limit the sale of e-cigarettes to specialty vape shops only.
“MPP Gélinas’ legislation takes concrete steps to reduce youth vaping and deserves support,” says Helena Sonea, Senior Manager of Public Issues, CCS. “We urge all Ontario MPPs to support the bill.”
A recent study by University of Waterloo researchers published in June by the British Medical Journal found that youth vaping in Canada increased among 16-19 year-olds by 74% in a single year, from 2017 to 2018.
The dramatic increase in youth vaping is prompting action in many provinces. In PEI, Bill 112 was introduced by MLA Cory Deagle and received third reading unanimously November 21; the bill includes a ban on e-cigarettes sales except in specialty vape shops as well as the establishment of regulatory authority to restrict flavours. In Nova Scotia, on October 2, Opposition Leader Tim Houston introduced Bill 167, a private member’s bill, to ban flavoured e-cigarettes. In British Columbia, as part of a package of measures announced on November 14, the provincial government will restrict advertising, set a maximum nicotine level of 20 mg/ml, restrict flavours, and ban the sale of flavoured e-cigarettes except in adult-only premises.
“We have made such progress at reducing youth smoking that we do not need a new generation of teenagers to become addicted to nicotine through e-cigarettes,” says Sonea. “Restricting advertising, flavours, nicotine levels, and retail locations are all necessary measures. The sooner legislation is adopted, the sooner Ontario’s youth will be protected.”
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer. When you want to know more about cancer, visit our website cancer.ca or call our toll-free, bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333.
For more information, please contact:
Nuala McKee
Manager, Public Engagement & Advocacy Communications
Canadian Cancer Society
National Office
Phone: 416-934-5324