Photo 100731317 © Milkos | Dreamstime.com

By Tiffany Goodwein

Group asking city to add vaping to smoking bylaw to curb youth vaping use

Jun 18, 2021 | 5:46 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB- A national lobby group is calling on the City of Medicine Hat to help reduce the prevalence of vaping in younger people by adding vaping, to the smoking bylaw.

“It’s an epidemic in Canada. I mean we are dealing with a COVID-19 epidemic of course, and governments are spending a lot of time and energy, fortunately, to bend that curb on COVID-19 to zero. But we’ve got another epidemic that is raging a youth vaping epidemic,” said Action on Smoking and Health, executive director Les Hagen.

While rates of smoking have plunged across the country. The same can’t be said for vaping. According to Hagen, under federal law, selling vaping products to people under the age of 18 is prohibited, but that hasn’t stopped youth from getting their hands on it.

“Right now, there are over 400,000 young people who are using vaping products across Canada in grades six to 12. That’s 400,000 too many. That corresponds to 50,000 in Alberta, so we are urging everyone and all levels of government to take action.” he said.

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat and area: Dec. 13-15

9h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

Dec 12, 2024

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

Dec 12, 2024

According to Hagen, vaping can lead to nicotine addiction, and teens who vape are three times as likely to start smoking.

Hagen said the City of Medicine Hat has been a leader in creating smoke-free public spaces. In 2013 the city passed a bylaw that prohibits smoking in outdoor public spaces like parks, pools and playgrounds.

Aside from vaping, the request by Action on Smoking and Health would also align the bylaw to include tobacco and cannabis to the current smoking bylaw in place.

Seventeen-year-old Gavin Bibeau vapes. He said he is not entirely in favour of a bylaw to control vaping.

“Personally I don’t like the idea especially at a skate park like this because this is kind of our home, and our spot and it is kind of like what we do but in a school park or playground, I completely understand because there are little children everywhere.” Bibeau said.

He also questions the effectiveness of a bylaw, given people can be seen smoking at parks even when it is banned.

No one from the City of Medicine Hat was available for comment by deadline.

The issue will be going before council at the next meeting on Monday, June 21.