NPA councillors seek greater powers to regulate sale and promotion of vaping products

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      Governments across North America are scrambling to respond in the wake of vaping-related pulmonary illnesses. And Vancouver is no exception.

      NPA councillors Rebecca Bligh and Lisa Dominato have prepared a lengthy motion on notice for the Tuesday (November 5) council meeting.

      It seeks council's support to direct staff to explore various regulatory measures and actions related to vaping products that would be permitted under the Vancouver Charter or other legislation.

      These include limiting the proximity of vape retailers to schools, youth-oriented facilities, and other areas frequented by youth, including community centres, libraries, and parks.

      The two councillors also want staff to examine ways of banning advertisements for vaping products on transit shelters, transit benches, street furniture, and other sites that the city owns or has some control over.

      That's not all. 

      The motion calls on staff to communicate with counterparts at the Vancouver school board, park board, and Vancouver Coastal Health to support its initiatives related to vaping and vape products.

      Councillors Rebecca Bligh and Lisa Dominato want to sharply curtail the marketing of vape products to young people in Vancouver.

      Bligh and Dominato are also seeking council's support to direct the mayor to write to the health minister to support a ban on flavoured vaping products and to write to the federal officials, including the prime minister, seeking restrictions on advertising of vape products.

      There are currently no restrictions on the sale of vape equipment and supplies, according to the motion on notice.

      The provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, has described vaping as an emerging and significant public health issue.

      This came in the wake of a rash of pulmonary illnesses and deaths in the United States linked to vaping products.

      Last month, B.C. reported its first probable case of vaping-related lung illness.

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