Michel withholds timeline for flavour ban — Cbc News Nb
cbc news nb: Health Minister Marjorie Michel would not say when Canada’s promised federal vaping flavour restrictions will happen, or whether they still will, five years after Ottawa announced the plan. She told CBC News she is willing to move in that direction and wants Canadians to be kept informed on next steps.
Michel said she would not give a timeline and would only say “as soon as possible,” while adding that she has hope. She also said, “I need to make sure everybody agrees.”
Health Canada and 2021
Health Canada announced in 2021 that it planned to limit vaping flavours nationwide to mint, menthol and tobacco. The department said fruity and sweet flavours appealed to youth, which drove the proposal.
Ottawa had regulations ready for two years, but the federal government never introduced them. The delay has left a national rule unresolved while some jurisdictions have already moved ahead on their own, including Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Quebec.
Ottawa's delay
The federal government has cited concern that a ban could trigger an illicit market. At the same time, Canada’s chief public health officers, the Canadian Cancer Society and Physicians for a Smoke Free Canada have pressed Ottawa for national flavour restrictions for years.
Michel said she is committed to keeping Canadians informed on next steps and said protecting youth is very important to her. For now, the policy remains in place on paper, with no public timetable for when Ottawa will decide whether to move ahead.
