Vapers to Ontario Health: It's Time to Take a Breath
TORONTO, June 1, 2018 /CNW/ - Ontario Health needs to put the brakes on the release of new vaping regulations due to take effect on July 1, 2018 until they've examined Health Canada's new stance on vaping.
Vapers Advocates of Ontario is issuing a warning to Ontario residents that if provincial regulations are released as-is, it will cause chaos in the industry as it struggles to comply with these contradictory laws.
"We are asking Ontario Health to delay the release of the July 1st regulations until they have reexamined their stance to align with that of Health Canada to ensure compliance from the industry," said Maria Papaioannoy, VAO spokesman and owner of Ecig Flavourium in Toronto. "Subjecting consumers and shop owners to a bag of mixed messages is counterproductive for everyone."
The VAO has been actively participating in candidate rallies across the province during this campaign, and it's clear from the feedback that more education needs to be done within all parties that VAPING ISN'T SMOKING. This week, business owners and consumers participated in multiple events. Manager of Vapemeet, Windsor location, Randy Labelle, organized a group to participate in a PC Rally.
"It was interesting listening to PC Leader Doug Ford engage with the crowd. He is committed to simplifying Ontario regulations as a whole. I think if we have the chance to meet with him, show him the science we would be able to keep indoor sampling inside our adult-only specialty vape shops," Labelle continues. "July 1st is less than a month away, and I am afraid that without a pause in the implementation of regulations we will see the smoking rates in Ontario begin to rise."
Health Canada believes that vaping should be seen as a less harmful alternative to smoking and should be regulated as such, yet Ontario has chosen to regulate vaping like tobacco products which will limit access for smokers who need help to quit.
We expect the candidates in this election to be knowledgeable on the issues impacting their constituents. We believe they owe it to every smoker in their ridings currently struggling to quit tobacco to take a breath; look at the new information released by Health Canada, and reexamine Ontario's unrealistic regulations.
A group from VAO will be heading to Doug Ford's event in Ottawa to once again engage with the party leader, and over the next few days attend as many campaign events as possible.
"This is a courtesy to Ontario Health who are about to have egg on their faces," Papaioannoy said. "They're about to embarrass themselves by releasing regulations that contradict the views of our federal health authority. For their sake, the sake of the industry, and for every smoker looking to make the switch, they need to take a pause and think about the ramifications for everyone involved."
For more information, please visit Health Canada's webpage on vaping: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/smoking-tobacco/vaping.html
Background information can be found at www.ivapeivote.ca.
SOURCE Vapors Advocates of Ontario
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