Ontario is taking additional action to protect children and youth from the health risks of vaping.
Health Minister Christine Elliott says the proposed changes would limit where flavoured and high nicotine vapour products are sold at retail stores.
Elliott says the government also plans to expand prevention efforts and bolster services to help people quit vaping.
If approved, the changes would come into effect this spring.
Elliott says the seven proposed changes are the result of extensive consultations, stressing there’s a clear case for action to curb the alarming increase in youth vaping.
Ontario is also calling on the federal government to create a national tax on vaping products.
Here is the seven point provincial plan:
1. Increasing access to services to help people quit vaping by expanding Telehealth Ontario
2. Restricting the retail sale of flavoured vapour products to specialty vape stores and cannabis retail stores, which are restricted to people aged 19 and over, with the exception of menthol, mint and tobacco flavours
3. Restricting the retail sale of high nicotine vapour products (more than 20mg/ml) to specialty vape stores
4. Working with major online retailers of vapour products and stakeholders to ensure compliance with age-based sales restrictions for online sales
5. Requiring specialty vape stores to ensure that vapour product displays, and promotions are not visible from outside their stores
6. Enhancing mental health and addiction services and resources to include vaping and nicotine addiction
7. Establishing a Youth Advisory Committee to provide advice on vaping issues.
Parents of young Ontarians are growing increasingly worried about the health risks of vaping. That's why we're taking a balanced approach that protects children & youth while avoiding fuelling an underground market for unsafe vapour products. Learn more: https://t.co/tAslKboVMi
— Christine Elliott (@celliottability) February 28, 2020
