The provincial NDP is pushing for tougher rules to keep youth from vaping.
Health critic Frances Gelinas has introduced a Private Member’s Bill that outlines several proposals.
One of the main points is increasing the minimum age for buying these products.
“If vaping is to help people quit smoking, then there is no reason to make it available to people of 18, 19, or 20 years old,” says Gelinas.
“The age to buy vaping products will go up to 21 years old.”
The Canadian Cancer Society backs this proposed bill.
Advocacy Manager for Ontario, Hilliary Buchan-Terrell, mentions that the number of young people who vape is significant, especially among grade 12 students.
“Twenty-seven percent of grade 12s are actually vaping. That’s nearly a third of youth,” says Buchan-Terrell.
“The high school rates are quite high, but particularly around that age group.”
Buchan-Terrell emphasizes that raising the legal purchase age to 21 moves it further away from those still in high school.
Other suggestions from Gelinas include banning s, limiting nicotine levels in vaping products, and restricting sales to specialized vape shops.
She also proposes allocating part of the taxes collected from these sales towards educational campaigns about the health risks associated with vaping.
“It’s about time that the government takes measures to protect our young people because there are more and more children who are becoming addicted to these products and to nicotine when they start vaping very young. This bill could change this situation,” says Gelinas.
The bill was presented in the Ontario Legislature this week.
Randy Thoms is a veteran news broadcaster with over 40 years’ experience. He is based in Fort Frances and covers stories across northwestern Ontario. Contact Randy at thoms. randy@radioabl. ca.
View all posts
Source link
Source link
