E-Cig policies of federal political parties in Canada

[ChrisUp2Late]

Anyone know what sort of stance the major Canadian political parties have on e-cigs?

I poked around their various websites and can't find anything.

Are any of them vape-friendly?

 

[retired1]

Don't think you're going to find a "written" policy from any of the parties. It's going to boil down to what each individual MP believes and how much sway Health Canada is going to have over policy decisions.

 

[fourtytwo]

And how much freedom that MP has to follow thier beliefs vs party lines.

 

[chefdude2000]

live in Toronto Ontario and have whats called The Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA) this regulates cigarette use throughout the Provence. I did contact the provincial government and city of Toronto officials to find out if these laws/restrictions were applied to e-cigs. This was the response I got.

"The Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA) and the City of Toronto Municipal Code does not regulate the use of electronic cigarettes, as these products do not contain tobacco. As such, restrictions respecting sale, promotion and use do not apply."

I have vaped in public a lot. On our transit system, stadiums, and with permission in restaurants and bars. I just recently got permission to vape at work in areas outside designated as non-smoking areas. I usually get looks and questions rather than discontent. If someone really objects I put my e-cig away. I think it's going to be give and take for a long time until e-cigs are accepted as a clean alternative to analogs.

 

[Esharp]

Some people don't really care if it's a clean alternative to analogs, it's your behavior that they want to control.

 

[VIPOD]

Some people don't really care if it's a clean alternative to analogs, it's your behavior that they want to control.

Partially true...."it's your tax dollar they want to control"

 

[ChrisUp2Late]

I sent a message to each party asking for their position. So far, nada...

 

[Talyon]

Canada well probably follow the US very closely.

 

[martinc]

As people hear about them more and more and as they become mainstream,stances will change across the world...just takes time. (i.e. gay marriages!)

 

[BuzzKilla]

As people hear about them more and more and as they become mainstream,stances will change across the world...just takes time. (i.e. gay marriages!)

by that logic... e-cigs shall be accepted in about 100 years?

 

[martinc]

by that logic... e-cigs shall be accepted in about 100 years?

Nice........

 

[aggo]

They sure won't be eradicated no matter what governments try to do.

 

[KillFace]

live in Toronto Ontario and have whats called The Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA) this regulates cigarette use throughout the Provence. I did contact the provincial government and city of Toronto officials to find out if these laws/restrictions were applied to e-cigs. This was the response I got.

"The Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA) and the City of Toronto Municipal Code does not regulate the use of electronic cigarettes, as these products do not contain tobacco. As such, restrictions respecting sale, promotion and use do not apply."

I have vaped in public a lot. On our transit system, stadiums, and with permission in restaurants and bars. I just recently got permission to vape at work in areas outside designated as non-smoking areas. I usually get looks and questions rather than discontent. If someone really objects I put my e-cig away. I think it's going to be give and take for a long time until e-cigs are accepted as a clean alternative to analogs.

Same here. Though, I vape at my desk in the cubicle farm. Everyone around knows what it is and no one has any issues. I've been doing it for 1.5 years now. Only complaint I ever got was for MLV Sithgar....so I don't vape that at work.

 

[ChrisUp2Late]

I got this from the Liberals:

"Dear Chris ,

Thank you for taking the time to write to the Liberal Party of Canada concerning cigarettes in Canada. I have CC'd Hon. Hedy Fry, the Liberal critic on Health for further review and assistance on this matter. In addition, please let us know what other issues you are interested in by filling out our survey at lpc.ca/survey. It is by far the best way to keep on top of all the political activities that affect you.

Thank you again and please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns in the future.

Kind regards,

Shane Mackenzie
Liberal Party of Canada"

The Green Party was a little less clueless, but needed some education:

"Hello Chris,

Thank you for your enquiry.

The Green Party of Canada has no official position on the availability and use of e-cigarettes in Canada.

Currently, Health Canada classifies e-cigarettes as a New Drug, and requires authorisation for their sale. They are currently regulated so heavily, that to date, no electronic smoking product has been authorised for sale by Health Canada.(1)

Further, there appears to be concern over how e-cigarettes could affect both the industry and public safety if consumers source e-cig refills from the internet. (2)

The Green Party of Canada is, however, very committed to public health and many Green Party members such as myself support investigating the benefits that e-cigarettes may offer over conventional cigarettes, such as protecting others from second-hand smoke and not causing as much pollution (no cigarette butts).

You can learn more about the Green Party of Canada's position on health promotion at:
Green Paper on Health Promotion | Green Party of Canada

The Green Party of Canada officially operates very much on a grass-roots level, so that individual members who wish to create a policy on this issue have the opportunity to create one, then debate and vote upon it among other members.

If you are interested in Green Party of Canada membership you are welcome to let me know by writing to info@greenparty.ca or going to JOIN/DONATE

Thanks again for your interest on this important issue.

Sincerely,

Marc Gravel

*Sources:
1) To All Persons Interested in Importing, Advertising or Selling Electronic Smoking Products in Canada - Health Canada Notice 2009-03-27
2) E-Cigarettes pose dilemmas for regulators, tobacco control advocates - The Globe and Mail


Green Party of Canada Information Services Ottawa
Service de l’Information du Parti Vert du Canada à Ottawa
T: 613.562.4916 Toll free | Sans frais 1.866.868.3447
Green Party of Canada | Parti vert du Canada"

I followed up and they replied:

Hi Chris,

I will forward your emails to Georgina Wilcock, who is the Green Party Health Critic.

I'm a very new volunteer with the Green Party of Canada, so I try to respond as best as I can in my capacity with Green Party Information Services, however in this case I'm not the most qualified person to respond to this particular issue.

I will personally read the information you have provided and would like to thank you for enlightening me on issues pertaining to e-cigarettes.

Sincerely,

Marc Gravel



Green Party of Canada Information Services Ottawa
Service de l’Information du Parti Vert du Canada à Ottawa
T: 613.562.4916 Toll free | Sans frais 1.866.868.3447
Green Party of Canada | Parti vert du Canada


On 2 July 2013 04:06, Chris Lalonde <lalonde@uvic.ca> wrote:
Hi Marc,

Thanks for getting back to me. The Green Party is the first (and only) federal party to respond to my query.

Health Canada's approach to this issue makes no sense from a public health perspective.

The concerns expressed in the Globe & Mail article are dated and ill-informed.

I would urge you to check out two web sites to better prepare the Green Party to form a sensible position on e-cigarettes:

The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary

Dr. Siegel is a Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health.

The counterfactual

Clive Bates is a former employee of ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) in the UK, and perhaps the most articulate advocate of tobacco harm reduction.

Best,

-Chris

 

[ChrisUp2Late]

No word from the NDP or Conservatives...