Canadian Cancer Society pushes for ban of flavoured tobacco products in Saskatchewan

REGINA – The Canadian Cancer Society of Saskatchewan is pushing for a provincial ban on flavoured tobacco products, and a survey of Saskatchewan residents show that most agree.

“They tend to lure kids into experimentation. They mask the harsh flavour of tobacco, which, again, makes experimenting easier,” said CCS’ Donna Pasiechnik.

A recent Ipsos Reid Online Omnibus survey paid for by the CCS shows that four out of five people in the province support a ban on flavoured tobacco products, something other provinces have already done, or are pursuing.

“Certainly we are taking their advice into consideration. We are looking into what other provinces have introduced in terms of legislation,” said Saskatchewan Health Minister Dustin Duncan in regards to the CSS’ ban idea.

The CCS is taking advantage of National Non-Smoking Week to renew its call for a ban, arguing that the flavours and packaging encourage young people to smoke.

“They’re designed to look like candy; brightly-coloured,” said Pasiechnik holding up a couple of multi-coloured packages with flavours including chocolate, watermelon, and grape.

“I had someone, if you can believe it, I was doing a presentation at a school, and some kid stole my chocolate blunts from my stuff,” she said with a laugh.

Less funny are recently-released results from a Health Canada-Propel Centre for Population Health Impact survey that found over 50 percent of tobacco users in Grades 9-12 in Saskatchewan have tried a flavoured tobacco product.

Saskatchewan has the highest youth smoking rate in the country with 20 per cent of teenagers aged between 15-19 lighting up, according to Statistics Canada.

But some manufacturers point out that the percentage of young people whose first experience with flavoured tobacco products is low, and suggest distribution is a bigger issue.

“The reason why kids are smoking tobacco and then go to try flavored tobacco products is because a lot of people are breaking the law, and those people aren’t the industry; they’re friends and family members who provide that product to kids,” said Luc Martial, vice-president of government affairs for tobacco product company Casa Cubana.