Vaping is 95% safer than smoking - The Canadian Vaping Association recommends modifications to Quebec's Bill 44

MONTREAL, Aug. 18, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) is proud to be taking part in the Québec government's special consultations and public hearings on Bill 44, An Act to Bolster Tobacco Control. The national non-profit organization is the sole representative of the country's vaping industry, an industry that has grown exponentially in the past few years, currently representing hundreds of employees and several hundreds of thousands of customers, and generating over $50 million in taxable revenue. Current estimates put the number of vape vendors in Québec at 183. The CVA's mission is aligned with the Québec government's priority of actively promoting a smoke-free lifestyle. The Association supports Bill 44 in principle and greatly welcomes government regulation in this market, especially with regard to prohibiting sales to minors. However, the CVA emphasizes that e-cigarettes and vaping devices are not tobacco products; they are an alternative to cigarettes and must be defined and regulated differently, most likely under a manufacturing bill.

"Based on our ongoing evaluation of the growing body of evidence, including qualified literature, studies and research on this topic, we are convinced that vaping is a significantly healthier choice than smoking and has the potential for dramatically reducing smoking-related disease and mortality in Québec," said Beju Lakhani, CVA president.

The CVA agrees that regulation is needed and has made it its mission to work with the government to improve Bill 44. "But we want to stress that there is a tremendous opportunity here for the government to harness the positive benefits of vaping from a public health perspective and most importantly to avoid driving the market underground, which is precisely what might happen if Bill 44 is enacted as is," declared Mr. Lakhani.

The CVA urges the Committee on Health and Social Services to consult further with the vaping industry on Bill 44 and any subsequent amendments. The Association also recommends that the committee wait on the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) safety requirements and take into consideration the findings of the latest research and case studies before regulating the industry. 

About the Canadian Vaping Association (CVA)
The CVA is a registered national non-profit organization responsible for the management of government and media relations on behalf of the Canadian vaping industry. The CVA represents over 300 retail and online electronic cigarette and vape businesses in Canada. The vast majority of store owners are former smokers who have switched from smoking to vaping. The growth of the vaping industry in Canada has not been the result of expensive marketing and media campaigns led by tobacco companies. It has instead been driven by substantial demand on the part of smokers, of whom there are currently 1.5 million in Québec. www.canadianvapingassociation.org

SOURCE Canadian Vaping Association (CVA)

Hélène Tomlinson, 514-285-1150