Media Release

Canadian Cancer Society commends Halton motion to reduce youth vaping

ONTARIO -

HALTON—

The Canadian Cancer Society welcomes the passage of a Halton Regional Council motion calling on both the provincial and federal governments to immediately act to curb youth vaping. Among other measures, the motion calls for a federal and provincial tax on vaping products, increasing the minimum age of sale for both vaping products and tobacco in Ontario to 21, comprehensive restrictions on flavours and a maximum nicotine level of 20 mg/ml for all e-cigarettes. “We commend Councillor Tom Adams and all of Halton Regional Council for championing action against youth vaping and continuing to move this issue forward at this difficult time,” said Stephen Piazza, Ontario Manager of Public Issues at the Canadian Cancer Society. “While the provincial government has made important progress over the past several months, youth vaping in Ontario and in Canada continues to be on the rise. We need to act now to reverse this troubling trend.”

A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that youth vaping among 16-19 year-olds in Canada more than doubled over a two year period, from 2017 to 2019. Youth vaping increased from 8.4 per cent in 2017 to 17.8 per cent in 2019—an increase of 112 per cent.

“The Canadian Cancer Society will build on this momentum and continue to press all levels of government to do more to reduce youth vaping,” said Helena Sonea, Senior Manager of Public Issues at the Canadian Cancer Society. “This motion identifies the most comprehensive path forward to ensure we don’t see a new generation of young people addicted to nicotine through e-cigarettes.”

The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer. When you want to know more about cancer, visit our website www.cancer.ca or call our toll-free, bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333.

For more information, please contact:
Nuala McKee
Manager, Public Engagement & Advocacy Communications
Canadian Cancer Society
National Office
Phone: 416-934-5324