Sask. passes legislation to raise smoking and vaping age to 19

The Government of Saskatchewan followed through on a throne speech promise Wednesday, introducing and passing legislation that will raise the age for smoking and vaping across the province.

The amendments to the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act introduced by Health Minister Everett Hindley will raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco and vapour products from 18 to 19, bringing it into line with Saskatchewan’s age restrictions on alcohol and cannabis.

The bill also proposes changes that the government said will lead to “greater clarity to existing restrictions on advertising and promotion of vapour products to youth.”

The health minister said the goal is to keep those products away from school-aged students.

“Tobacco and vapour products should have no place in Saskatchewan schools,” Hindley said in the release. “That is why we are taking steps to protect students from being exposed to these products.”

Hindley said vape products are “introducing Saskatchewan youth to the dangers of nicotine addiction,” and noted that a number of youth groups and other stakeholders helped influence the decision.

The government release noted the legislative changes will come into force at a later date.

The move has already been celebrated by many, including the Canadian Cancer Society, which lobbied for the change, and Mike Smider, owner of Queen City Vapes in Regina.

“Raising the age is good,” Smider said in a previous interview with 980 CJME.

“If we’re going to keep it out of high schools, then make it illegal for high school (students) to purchase it.”

Smider said he doesn’t think raising the age will have any impact on his business, as teens don’t make up a large percentage of his clientele.

Meanwhile, a change to anti-smoking regulations from Health Canada will see warning messages printed on individual cigarettes in addition to the warnings on packaging.

–With files from 650 CKOM’s Shane Clausing