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This article was published 6/3/2015 (2024 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba government is looking at restricting the use of electronic cigarettes in some public places.

Healthy Living Minister Deanne Crothers said the legislation — the timing of its introduction is still up in the air — would provide more uniform rules as to where e-cigarettes or vaping would be permitted.

Crothers said some businesses have banned the use of e-cigs on their property as had the Winnipeg School Division.

"I think it’s just fair that we create some legislation so that everybody is following the same rules," Crothers said Friday night at the NDP convention.

"We are looking at similar handling of e-cigarettes as we have with tobacco, but it’s not a done deal yet."

Crothers said whatever the government comes up with, it would not discourage smokers from using electronic cigarettes to quit smoking.

"I don’t want to discourage people from using it as a smoking cessation device," she said. "That’s not at all what we want to do, but we also don’t want to normalize something that takes the place of cigarettes."

Earlier this week, British Columbia said it would introduce legislation to restrict e-cigarettes.

The B.C. legislation, expected to be introduced in the spring, would make amendments to the Tobacco Control Act, limiting sales of e-cigarettes to those over 19, with retailers required to check ID. There will also be restrictions placed on the location of retail displays and advertising.

Plus, the use of e-cigarettes would be banned on public and private school grounds, as well as in indoor public spaces and workplaces.

Sales of the products will not be allowed in public buildings.