Local priorities

Keeping the health of children and families a priority for government

The Canadian Cancer Society is working to ensure that cancer and the health of children and families are top priorities for BC's Government.

To improve the health of children, urgently reduce the burden of cancer and other chronic diseases facing families, and ensure the health care system is sustainable, the Canadian Cancer Society is calling on all political parties to make a commitment to three priorities:

• Increase tobacco control measures

  Tobacco consumption is the largest single preventable cause of death and disease, killing more than 5,600 British Columbians each year. 

• #thinkbeforeyouvape

  The Society recognizes the potential benefit that e-cigarettes may provide to Canadians trying to quit smoking, though research in this area is evolving. Other nicotine replacement products are known to help smokers quit and have been approved for use in Canada. However, Health Canada has not approved e-cigarettes with nicotine as a quit smoking product for sale in Canada. The Society only recommends nicotine replacement products that have been approved by Health Canada.

  Meanwhile, e-cigarettes are widely available in Canada. Regulations are needed to prevent young people from using e-cigarettes and to help prevent the marketing of e-cigarettes from undermining tobacco control efforts. Federal and provincial governments should adopt regulatory measures, including regulating:

  • sales to minors
  • places of use (not allowing in places where smoking is banned by law)
  • advertising and promotion
  • where e-cigarettes are sold
  • labelling
  • addition of flavours and other ingredients
• Reduce exposure to environmental carcinogens

  The Canadian Cancer Society BC & Yukon is advocating for provincial legislation that would ban the use and sale of cosmetic pesticides across BC (pesticides used to improve the appearance of non-agricultural landscaping such as lawns, gardens, parks, shrubs and sports fields).

  To date, 40 municipalities have introduced local restrictions on the use of cosmetic pesticides on public and private lands. However, municipalities can only control the use of pesticides, not the sale, and many British Columbians are still unprotected because there are municipalities without restrictions in place.

  Because cosmetic pesticides can pose a health risk to people, particularly children, we are asking the BC Government for new legislation that:

  • Prohibits the use, sale and retail display of chemical cosmetic pesticides (used on lawns and gardens and non-agricultural landscaping).
  • Allows exemptions only to protect public health.
  • Has effective means for enforcement and provides for public education about the ban and alternatives to chemical pesticides. 

  Learn how to reduce your exposure to pesticides with these handy tips and tools:

  • What are pesticides and why are they harmful? 
  • Some natural alternatives to pesticides 
  • Eliminate the use of pesticides with bylaws and education
• Protect youth from excess UV radiation

  Following advocacy efforts by the Society, the BC Government announced that youth under 18 would be banned from using tanning beds.