TORONTO – Canadian Cancer Society youth advocates are urging provincial politicians to reintroduce legislation to ban flavoured tobacco products in Ontario.
The group staged a photo-op event at Queen’s Park Wednesday morning including having a sit-down talk with MPPs of all parties.
The province introduced a similar bill last fall but it was shelved as a result of the 2014 provincial election.
The legislation targets candy and fruit-flavoured tobacco products that are specifically marketed to youth under age 18, including flavoured cigarillos and chewing tobacco.
However, critics argued the proposed new bill does not ban other tobacco-based flavoured products such as twist sticks, dissolvable strips and lozenges, which the Canadian Cancer Society has warned can contain three times as much nicotine as a smoked cigarette.
The province recently amended its Smoke-Free Ontario Act which will ban smokers from lighting up on bar or restaurant patios, playgrounds, and sports fields beginning next year.
Starting Jan. 1, 2015, it will also be illegal to sell tobacco products on university and college campuses.
With a file from The Canadian Press
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