The BC government has proposed a new law that would hold vaping product manufacturers, as well as wholesalers, accountable for deceptive practices that prioritize profit over people.
The Province says that if this legislation is passed, it will enable British Columbia to take legal action against companies that cause harm through misleading promotion of vaping products.
This legislation would allow for similar outcomes to what happened with the settlement between BC and big tobacco companies earlier this year, which garnered the Province $3.6 billion.
“Deceptive practices by vaping manufacturers are driving harmful behaviours, especially among youth, and placing growing pressure on our health-care and education systems,” said Niki Sharma, Attorney General.
“On our watch, British Columbians will not be left paying the price for corporate deception. With this legislation, BC is once again leading the way in protecting people and holding corporations to account, just as we did with tobacco and opioid manufacturers.”
The proposed Vaping Product Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act, introduced on Wednesday, October 8th, would enable, but not require, the Province to take legal action against those whose products are associated with vaping-related disease and injury.
Given that vaping products are often sought illegally by youth, Minister of Education and Child Care Lisa Beare noted that this legislation would be another tool the Province had in their toolkit to protect people against the harms of nicotine addiction.
“Students need to be supported and safe, both in and out of school, so they can make informed decisions about their health,” said Beare.
“We all want to keep vapes and dangerous substances out of the hands of kids, which is why today’s announcement is so important. It will hold vaping companies accountable for the harm they are causing youth and families.”
Ongoing measures to deter vaping and smoking include:
- Public-education campaigns, which provide youth and caregivers with accurate information about vaping risks
- QuitNow.ca, a provincial resource to help people quit smoking and vaping
- Collaboration between various levels of government to address the complex challenges of nicotine addiction and vaping-related harms
The Province says this legislation would align with their harm reduction work regarding nicotine use, smoking and vaping.
