A A

The Nova Scotia Tories' proposal to ban all flavoured vaping products and make it illegal for people under 19 to possess any tobacco products has been met with caution by the province.

“The evidence is mounting about the harmful effects of vaping and too many young people are vaping," said party leader Tim Houston, insisting the amendments are ultimately aimed at preventing young people from vaping. “So we need to as a province and as a society do what can we do to protect our youth and for people to understand what they’re doing is harmful.”

The province’s Tobacco Access Act currently prohibits people under the age of 19 from purchasing tobacco but says nothing specifically about possessing it. The Tories’ proposed amendments to the act come on the heels of Health Canada news last month showing a connection between vaping and pulmonary illness. Quebec also reported a confirmed case of severe pulmonary illness related to vaping use last month.

Health Minister Randy Delorey responded to the proposed legislation tabled Wednesday with caution. While he said his government is looking at the possibility of changing or updating regulations around vaping products, he said it’s also studying data being collected by public agencies across the country. He suggested regulatory changes could come this fall sitting but said it could take more time to get the legislation right and avoid any loopholes in the law.

Delorey suggested there’s no single deterrent that would reduce the rise of vaping among teens, but rather a multi-pronged approach that also targets advertising marketing and education.

The Lung Association of Nova Scotia has reported that nearly 37 per cent of students from Grades 7 through 12 have tried an e-cigarette at least once, which is 61 per cent higher than the same rate among all Canadian students within that age range.

The Tory bill also calls on the province to implement an education program in public schools warning of the risks of e-cigarettes and a mandatory review of the Tobacco Access Act every five years.

Houston said the minister and the Liberal government have been outspoken about their concerns about the rise of vaping in the province and now it’s time to act.

“Maybe they’re gun-shy, maybe they don’t feel like they have enough information. We need to send a message to the community vaping is harmful, they need to understand that.”