Hello, Ian, and thank you for contacting the Green Party of Canada. I've just gotten email from Elizabeth, asking me to reply to your enquiry.
First of all, congratulations on no longer being a smoker!
I learned about electronic cigarettes for the first time some months ago, when someone in my riding (Toronto Centre) contacted me, asking whether the Green Party of Canada had a policy about them.
My correspondent feels as strongly about electronic cigarettes as you do. We have exchanged emails a number of times, during which she taught me much about this product, and the issues about it in Canada.
As I am not a medical professional, I consulted our health critic on Green Shadow Cabinet, Dr. Georgina Wilcock. Here is the message she sent, some months ago. Below it, I'll provide some context.
Thank you very much for your thorough detailing of the health benefits of vaping.
It certainly appears to be safer than cigarette smocking and would offer some protection to passive smokers.
The Green Party considers that ......... should be legalized. We believe that this measure would remove the criminal element from the ......... trade and allow the government to control and tax the use of ..........
From your description of vaping it appears that it is a safer option than smoking, and therfore the Green Party would consider working towards the legalization of e-cigarettes.
Green Parties, all over the world, at whatever level (national, provincial, municipal) are grass-roots-based, with policy proposals from individual members that other members develop, debate, and then vote on. At our convention this past August, a new process to simplify policy development was put into place. We are gradually working out the details. (Previously, new policy could only be voted on at conventions, which occur every couple of years.) As of now, you could join the Green Party of Canada, and then, after the election, propose policy on electronic cigarettes, which other members would discuss with you online. (We of course can't have member votes on new policies during an election, because our platform is based on our current policies.)
After the election was called, my correspondent emailed me again, requesting a public statement from me about this issue. She was pleased with what I did. I asked her to post on my website, and then I replied. A certain amount of clicking is necessary, simply because my WordPress skills are limited. (For example, I don't know why seeing the comments on my home page require clicking.)
To find my statement, go to
http://www.electellen.ca
and, under the top section on the home page, Federal Election!, click
2 comments.
You will see my correspondent's question, and my reply.
And here, for your convenience, are the question and my reply.
Dear Ellen,
Im considering voting Green for many reasons, but also because none of the other candidates in this riding will answer the following question.
What is your (and/or your partys) position towards electronic cigarettes & their status within Canada?
on 27 Mar 2011 at 5:55 am
Ellen
Thank you for raising this issue. The Green Party of Canada has no official position on electronic cigarettes. I personally strongly support examining this option carefully and thoroughly. I believe the Green Partys strong focus on health promotion is congruent with encouraging critical scrutiny of something that may be safer than cigarette smoking and may offer some protection from second-hand smoke.
Thus, I, and I believe Dr. Wilcock, would support research into the concerns raised by the Health Canada regulations, in order to determine whether banning or perhaps permitting, regulating, and taxing these products is desirable in Canada.
Best from Ellen
Ellen Michelson
Green Party of Canada
Candidate, Toronto Centre, 41st General Election
Peace and Security Advocate, Green Shadow Cabinet
Candidate of Record, 40th General Election
416-703-3827
Campaign office: 125 Lower Jarvis St., 10am-8pm daily
http://www.electellen.ca
Ellen Michelson | Facebook
Ellen Michelson (voteellen) on Twitter
First of all, congratulations on no longer being a smoker!
I learned about electronic cigarettes for the first time some months ago, when someone in my riding (Toronto Centre) contacted me, asking whether the Green Party of Canada had a policy about them.
My correspondent feels as strongly about electronic cigarettes as you do. We have exchanged emails a number of times, during which she taught me much about this product, and the issues about it in Canada.
As I am not a medical professional, I consulted our health critic on Green Shadow Cabinet, Dr. Georgina Wilcock. Here is the message she sent, some months ago. Below it, I'll provide some context.
Thank you very much for your thorough detailing of the health benefits of vaping.
It certainly appears to be safer than cigarette smocking and would offer some protection to passive smokers.
The Green Party considers that ......... should be legalized. We believe that this measure would remove the criminal element from the ......... trade and allow the government to control and tax the use of ..........
From your description of vaping it appears that it is a safer option than smoking, and therfore the Green Party would consider working towards the legalization of e-cigarettes.
Green Parties, all over the world, at whatever level (national, provincial, municipal) are grass-roots-based, with policy proposals from individual members that other members develop, debate, and then vote on. At our convention this past August, a new process to simplify policy development was put into place. We are gradually working out the details. (Previously, new policy could only be voted on at conventions, which occur every couple of years.) As of now, you could join the Green Party of Canada, and then, after the election, propose policy on electronic cigarettes, which other members would discuss with you online. (We of course can't have member votes on new policies during an election, because our platform is based on our current policies.)
After the election was called, my correspondent emailed me again, requesting a public statement from me about this issue. She was pleased with what I did. I asked her to post on my website, and then I replied. A certain amount of clicking is necessary, simply because my WordPress skills are limited. (For example, I don't know why seeing the comments on my home page require clicking.)
To find my statement, go to
http://www.electellen.ca
and, under the top section on the home page, Federal Election!, click
2 comments.
You will see my correspondent's question, and my reply.
And here, for your convenience, are the question and my reply.
Dear Ellen,
Im considering voting Green for many reasons, but also because none of the other candidates in this riding will answer the following question.
What is your (and/or your partys) position towards electronic cigarettes & their status within Canada?
on 27 Mar 2011 at 5:55 am
Ellen
Thank you for raising this issue. The Green Party of Canada has no official position on electronic cigarettes. I personally strongly support examining this option carefully and thoroughly. I believe the Green Partys strong focus on health promotion is congruent with encouraging critical scrutiny of something that may be safer than cigarette smoking and may offer some protection from second-hand smoke.
Thus, I, and I believe Dr. Wilcock, would support research into the concerns raised by the Health Canada regulations, in order to determine whether banning or perhaps permitting, regulating, and taxing these products is desirable in Canada.
Best from Ellen
Ellen Michelson
Green Party of Canada
Candidate, Toronto Centre, 41st General Election
Peace and Security Advocate, Green Shadow Cabinet
Candidate of Record, 40th General Election
416-703-3827
Campaign office: 125 Lower Jarvis St., 10am-8pm daily
http://www.electellen.ca
Ellen Michelson | Facebook
Ellen Michelson (voteellen) on Twitter
