REGINA - This week marked a win for youth advocates who had called for Saskatchewan to raise the legal age for smoking and vaping.
On Wednesday the legislature passed Bill 147 - The Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Amendment Act, 2023, which increased the minimum age for tobacco and vapour product purchase from age 18 to 19.
That change went through unanimously with support from all parties in the Assembly, who expedited passage in the House Wednesday.
After passing the legislation, the government issued a statement acknowledging the work of the Youth4Change group, who were at the Legislature that day along with representatives from Lung Saskatchewan, Canadian Cancer Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Youth4Change, consisting of students advocating against smoking and vaping, had previously been at the legislature in May. At that time they held a rally on the steps calling for a ban against flavoured vaping products and to raise the legal age to 19. They also met with legislators including then-Health Minister Paul Merriman to advocate for the issue.
Shortly after Bill 147 passed on Wednesday, representatives from Youth4Change told reporters they were “proud of the work” they had done and “energized to continue this.”
The youth group noted that vaping was very prevalent at high schools in the province, and that it affects both their long-term and short-term health, as well as socially. They pointed to vaping flavours as a major issue and wanted to see a ban on that, saying “that’s why most youth start vaping and that’s the reason they continue to vape.”
The new Health Minister Everett Hindley said he was “thankful for the Youth4Change group that was here today… this was something that was advocated for by the youth.”
What the legislation does, said Hindley, is “align with the current age for alcohol and cannabis as well. We did extensive consultation with a number of groups across the province, including the advocates that I mentioned today, as well as business partners, SUMA, SARM, organizations across Saskatchewan. This is, I think, an important day for helping to address youth smoking and vaping rates in our province.“
