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1/11 On Feb. 25, 2020, the Gov't of Alberta announced that it would “protect minors from risks associated with vaping”. @jkenney @shandro @RachelNotley @CMOH_Alberta @albertateachers @CoachAlberta @Albertadoctors @DentalHealthAB @globalnews @CTVNews @CBC @calgaryherald
2/11 But the Government has just passed second reading of Bill 19, what might be called, “The Protection of the Vaping Industry Act”.
3/11 The Opposition proposed to amend the Bill by: (1.) reducing permissible nicotine levels from 60 mg/mL (which is a lot!!) to 20 mg/mL; and (2) banning all vaping flavours but tobacco - (Alberta has banned already banned all cigarette and chewing tobacco flavours).
4/11 But the Government wouldn’t amend the Bill “to protect minors from the risks associated with vaping”, even though the Government promised the people of Alberta it would.
5/11 On the nicotine issue, the AB Health Minister said, ‘Ottawa can change the nicotine level if it wants.’ Has the Gov't of Alberta decided that Ottawa should have more power over Alberta affairs? (That would be news!)
6/11 Health is provincial jurisdiction and vaping is a health matter. Regulating vaping is Alberta’s business. Is Alberta insufficiently mature to do its own job to protect Alberta minors, as promised?
7/11 On the flavour issue, a Government MLA said, ‘I received a lot of cards and letters from Albertans saying that if they lose vape flavours then they will return to smoking’. Well, so what?
8/11 How many cards did the MLA receive from people saying, “If I lose vaping flavours, then I will address my nicotine addiction by ceasing." (Hint: None. The tobacco industry doesn’t fund such cards to MLAs!)
9/11 How many cards and letters did the Gov't receive from teens who were kicked off sports teams because they can't stop vaping or rushed to the hospital because they had trouble breathing?
10/11 So we have a Bill that still could be changed. The people of Alberta must speak. Please tweet @jkenney ; @tylershandro. Please tell them that Albertans actually do want their elected representatives to protect minors, as promised.
11/11 Reduce nicotine levels to 20 mg/mL. Ban all vaping flavours but tobacco. This is easy. Even if doing so angers the tobacco and vaping industry whose money matters. Alberta children and youth - their health, our future - matter more.
