REGINA – Saskatchewan has the highest teen smoking rate in the country; however the Canadian Cancer Society says banning menthol-flavoured tobacco products could help curb that statistic.
Six provinces have brought forward legislation to ban menthol, but not Saskatchewan. Earlier this week, Federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose said Saskatchewan is stalling a potential national-ban on menthol.
“How far do we want to go in restricting adults to purchase products that are legal products? Just because they may be attractive to a population that they’re not intended for,” said Health Minister Dustin Duncan.
READ MORE: Saskatchewan in no hurry to ban menthol tobacco
Health Canada estimates only two per cent of smokers prefer the menthol-flavour. However, the national Youth Smoking Survey finds 32 per cent of high-school smokers prefer menthol.
“This whole argument about adults smoking menthol, so what? We’re trying to reduce smoking rates,” said Donna Pasiechnik, with the Canadian Cancer Society in Saskatchewan.
“I think they (the provincial government) are ideological opposed to any kind of regulation that would affect business. That’s what it seems to me because they’re not listening to health groups,” said Pasiechnik.
The Western Convenience Stores Association says menthol makes up about five per cent of tobacco sales in Saskatchewan, which is not a huge portion of business. Regardless, the group says it’s opposed to a ban over concerns about a spike on the illegal market.
Saskatchewan receives about $285 million in tobacco tax revenue per year.
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