Earlier this week, amendments to the Tobacco Control Act were passed unanimously by the Legislative Assembly, allowing the province to move quickly to ensure regulation of vaping and vaping products is in line with existing tobacco legislation. 

"On the 5th of November, Health Minister Jim Rieter introduced the proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Act essential to bring vaping products in line with exciting tobacco legislation," Swift Current MLA, Everett Hindley said. "What that does, is it's amendments to Bill 133. Essentially what it does is it treats vaping the same as tobacco in terms of how it's treated, how it's sold, specific to youth. That's the main purpose of the amendments to the legislation." 

Hindley said that recent news from across the world about the problems vaping has caused its users, was one of the reasons for the amendments, but it was also concerns brought forward to MLAs across the province. 

"I know I had a chance where I met personally with the Canadian Cancer Society to raise concerns on behalf of the Cancer Society. I was also being approached by parents and by folks of the Chinook School Division. They flagged it and said that this is becoming a bit of an issue in the schools locally and across southwest Saskatchewan." 

Hindley said that seeing youth advocate for themselves and in favour of amendments made an impact. 

"I think it's more impactful when you have, in the case of this particular legislation, when you have groups of youth saying this is something that we see. They are directly impacted, they got friends in high school, they know people that have been impacted by this. That makes a difference. People ask the question, who made the laws, and why are they made. It's for reasons like this. This is a good example of youth having some good involvement and the government taking a look at what they are saying and following up with some recommendations." 

Over the next months, the Ministry of Health will proceed with the necessary supporting regulations to address both the restrictions on vaping and vaping products and the enforcement. New signage prohibiting vaping will be made available for public buildings, retail locations, and school properties. 

It is anticipated that The Tobacco Control Act amendments and supporting regulations will be in force in early 2020. 

Introduced on November 5, the amendments will: 

  • restrict the sale of vapour/e-cigarette devices and products to individuals 18 years of age and older; 
  • prohibit the display of vapour/e-cigarette products in a retail business where young persons have access; 
  • restrict the use of vapour/e-cigarette products in and around public buildings, including schools and school grounds, in the same manner as our provincial tobacco legislation; 
  • prohibit the sale of vapour/e-cigarette products from specified facilities such as amusement parks, arcades, and theatres where youth frequent; restrict advertising of vapour/e-cigarette products in the same manner as tobacco products by prohibiting advertising signs and promotional signs in areas where young persons can enter; 
  • provide the ability to restrict the sale of flavoured tobacco and vapour products by regulation;
  • and expand the authority of tobacco enforcement officers to include enforcement of vapour/e-cigarette product restrictions 

Hindley said that they are hoping that the regulations will have a positive impact. 

"You're trying to do something that will make a difference in people's everyday lives. If this helps save one life in terms of making it less accessible and if that prevents one young person from getting into it and leading to some dire consequences, than it's worth it." 

Hindley added that the province feels good about the current regulations, but is open to making changes.