On January 18th, the Ontario Government released their summary of the proposed Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA), 2017 Regulations ( en | fr ) for public consultation.

When it comes into force, the SFOA, 2017 will repeal the existing Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA) and Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015 (ECA) and replace them with a single legislative framework.

What does this mean?

Prohibited use

General vaping will be prohibited in the following locations:

Exemptions for use

With the SFOA, 2017, the government has provided for exemptions, but only for smoking of tobacco, and the smoking and vaping of medical cannabis in:

An exemption is also available for the use of tobacco for traditional Indigenous cultural and spiritual purposes.

The only exemptions for vapour product not used for medical marijuana are:

One of the bullets states, “Expand the exemptions for the smoking of tobacco and the smoking and vaping of medical cannabis in designated guest rooms of hotels, motels and inns, and in controlled rooms of residential care facilities, designated veterans’ facilities and designated psychiatric facilities, to include all ecigarette use.”

Limits points of sale

These are no surprise and we thing would be expected. Products cannot be sold in: public hospitals, long-term care homes, pharmacies, grocery stores that contain pharmacies, post-secondary education campuses, certain Ontario government office buildings, primary and secondary schools and their grounds, child care centres, places where home child care is provided.

Prohibited Flavoured Vapour Products

While provisions for these exist, no flavours are restricted at this time.

Sale and Supply to Minors and Signage

This remains the same as it was with the Electronic Cigarette Act (ECA), 2015.

Display and Promotion

The SFOA, 2017 prohibits Display and Promotion but the regulations have defined an exemption for “Specialty vape stores” as follows:

Addition requirements for the exemptions are:

For those selling vaping product that do not qualify under the above exemption (i.e. C-stores), promotion and display will be limited to:

The full Summary of Proposed Regulation can be seen at the bottom of this article or online here: en | fr

What happens now?

Public consultation begins now and extends through March 3, 2018.

After reading their summary and assessment, we encourage everyone (business owners and vapers or even friends of vapers) to submit your comments to the Government of Ontario.

Email:  smokefreeontario2017@ontario.ca

Mailing Address:

Health Protection Policy and Programs Branch
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
393 University Avenue, Suite 2100
Toronto, ON
M7A 2S1

Silence is consent…

 Summary of Proposed Regulation

English

French

Third Reading was a Liberal and NDP vs. PC vote which ended as 63 in favour to 27 opposed.

Status of the Bill

It is unfortunate that the Standing Committee of Justice Policy made none of the requested amendments that were submitted for Schedule 3, Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017.

Make no mistake about it, the bill as it was passed is devastating to vapers and the vaping industry in Canada. However, we have been told that there will be exemptions for vaping retail shops within the regulations.

This is what was presented in the proposed regulations for the Electronic Cigarette Act, 2015 (Bill 45) which were never finalized nor proclaimed:

The ministry is also proposing to permit the display and promotion of e-cigarette products (but not the testing or sampling of e-cigarettes) in places where they are sold, provided that the following conditions are met:

• Owner must inform its local public health unit in writing that it wishes to operate under the exemption;
• Products and promotional material must not be visible from the outside of the store;
• Individuals under the age of 19 would not be permitted to enter the shop;
• Customers could only access the store from outdoors or from areas in an enclosed shopping mall;
• Store could not be a thoroughfare (e.g. kiosk in a mall corridor).

So what happens now?

The Government is currently drafting proposed regulations that will be open for public consultation. Any exemptions will be listed in those proposed regulations.

We encourage EVERYONE (consumers and industry) to respond during the consultation period whether you agree or disagree with their proposal.

Different sections of the Act can be Proclamed at different times. Depending on what gets proclaimed for what date will determine what is in effect.

After consultation period on the proposed regulations, the final version will be posted and they will not be effective until the proclamation date for “that section”.

So it is business as usual (prepare for Federal Bill S-5) until Regulation for the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 are finalized and proclamation date(s) has been set.

Many presenters covering the wide range of topics within this bill were heard.  The transcripts for those meetings are not yet available as of this posting, but should be published on their website soon ( Transcript Index: en | fr ).

### UPDATE – December 9th:  Transcripts for these sessions were posted on December 8th.

Scheduled presenters for November 29th:

The online transcript (downloaded are below) can be found here: en | fr

Scheduled presenters for the first session on November 30th:

The online transcript (downloaded are below) can be found here: en | fr

Now the Committee has the following deadlines:

As you can see, that is a LOT a people covering a lot of topics with a very small number of meeting sessions and very little time.  The ECTA has always been in favour of fair and reasonable regulation, it is what we do and is the foundation upon which we were formed.  However, we are opposed to the process that the Liberal Government has enacted to rush this bill to Royal Assent.

Just as do the other Schedules within this bill, Schedule 3 deserves its own FULL debate, discussion and committee proceedings or what we will end up with is a significant number of unintended consequences that will affect the people of Ontario, up to and including potential avoidable death.

Obviously ECTA’s presentation to the Committee was on Schedule 3, the Smoke Free Ontario Act, 2017 and our recorded presentation and submission are below:

Downloaded Transcript (December 9th) of November 29th

Downloaded Transcript (December 9th) of November 30th

Several days ago, we posted a Summary of what is included in the bill, for your reference.

A motion was put forward for time limits and committee review on November 21st to end the debate on second reading of the bill within parliament.  That motion was “carried on division” on November 23rd,

The motion included the following limits:

The ECTA will be presenting to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy on Thursday, November 30th at 2:30p Eastern.

As anyone can clearly see from this timeline, these four, VERY different schedules are being rammed down the throats of Ontario residents:

Any one of these Schedules could (and should) be fully debated within the House on their own merit.

This is a very dark time for democracy in Ontario.

What to do now…

There is not much time to take action but we recommend that you send in a written submission to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy.  The period for submitting a brief ENDS on November 30th at 6pm Eastern.  Written submissions with supporting documents should be sent to the Clerk of the Standing Committee on Justice Policy:

Christopher Tyrell
Tel: 416-325-3883
Fax: 416-325-3505
comm-justicepolicy@ola.org

Room 1405, Whitney Block
Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON M7A 1A2

TTY: (416) 325-3538

And you MUST IMMEDIATELY contact your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for an urgent meeting to discuss this bill. If you are a business owner, the MPP for the district in which your business operates is also a potential contact.

We recommend that you communicate with your MPP using one or more of the following methods (in order of preference for usual effectiveness):

And follow-up using the same or other method to see if they have any questions or would like additional information. The more they hear from you, the more likely it is that you will remain on their radar.

These regulations WILL affect your vaping business and/or you, personally.

Ideally, ECTA would like to see Schedule 3 completely removed from Bill 174 and resubmitted as a separate bill, but AFTER consulting with industry stakeholders and using science and facts for the legislation as opposed to ideology as a driving force to prohibition.

There is additional information and consumer action that can be taken from the Vapor Advocates of Ontario. They have a mechanism of emailing your MPP from their website. There have been more than 10,000 sent as of this posting:  https://vapingisntsmoking.ca/

Relying solely on ideological Public Health agencies for input using theories and myths has proven to be a public health hazard when it comes to the lives of smokers, their loved ones and vaping products.

Quit or die is no longer the only option to potentially save lives.

Many retailers across the province of Ontario have taken steps to help educate the public on the severity of what Bill 174 means, in it’s current state as it goes to Committee. This one in particular has caught our attention and it is a VERY real and accurate portrayal of the results from the bill as it is worded today:

Silence is consent…

As one can see by the extensive title of the bill, Bill 174 is an omnibus bill in that they have placed a lot of unrelated and controversial items within the same bill. We can’t say what the motivation might be for this approach, but this tactic has been used by different governments to push things through the the process by avoiding extensive debate of potential issues or as a political weapon against an opposing party, should they vote not to pass the bill.

Schedule 3, Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 is the part that applies to vaping products.

Specific points of interest that we found in the bill are as follows:

Definitions to note

 “enclosed public place” means,

• the inside of any place, building or structure or vehicle or conveyance, or a part of any of them,
  • that is covered by a roof, and
  • to which the public is ordinarily invited or permitted access, either expressly or by implication, whether or not a fee is charged for entry,
• or a prescribed place; (“lieu public clos”)

“enclosed workplace” means,

• the inside of any place, building or structure or vehicle or conveyance, or a part of any of them,
  • that is covered by a roof,
  • that employees work in or frequent during the course of their employment whether or not they are acting in the course of their employment at the time, and
  • that is not primarily a private dwelling, or
• a prescribed place; (“lieu de travail clos”)

“prescribed” means prescribed by the regulations

“promote”, with respect to tobacco products, electronic cigarettes or a prescribed product or substance, means to use any commercial act or practice or to use any commercial communication, through any media or other means, that is intended to or is likely to,

• encourage its purchase or use or the purchase or use of a particular brand, or
• create an awareness of or an association with it, or with a brand or a manufacturer or seller; (“promouvoir”)

“use”, with respect to electronic cigarettes, includes any of the following:

• Inhaling vapour from an electronic cigarette.
• Exhaling vapour from an electronic cigarette.
• Holding an activated electronic cigarette.

Requirements for Sale/Advertisement

 Prohibited Use

No “use” (see definition) of vaping device in a public space, workspace, educational facilities, childcare facilities (including home childcare) or reserved seating area in sports/entertainment arenas. Exceptions can be granted by the regulations.

No “use” (see definition) of vaping devices in common areas of condominium, apartment building or university indoor (garage, party or entertainment room, hallway, lobby, etc.). Exceptions can be granted by the regulations.

No use of vaping products in a vehicle with a youth under 16 years of age.

Exemptions:

Enclosed Workplace: “person who smokes or holds lighted tobacco or to a medical cannabis user who smokes or holds lighted medical cannabis or who uses medical cannabis through an electronic cigarette in an indoor room in a residence that also serves as an enclosed workplace if the following conditions are met”

Hotel rooms: “person who smokes or holds lighted tobacco or to a medical cannabis user who smokes or holds lighted medical cannabis or who uses medical cannabis through an electronic cigarette in a guest room in a hotel, motel or inn if the following conditions are met”

Hospice facilities: “a medical cannabis user who smokes or holds lighted medical cannabis or who uses medical cannabis through an electronic cigarette in a hospice”

Testing/Research Facilities: “person who smokes or holds lighted tobacco, who smokes or holds lighted medical cannabis or who uses an electronic cigarette in a scientific research and testing facility for the purpose of conducting research or testing concerning tobacco products, vapour products or cannabis, as the case may be”

Inspector Power

Fines

The following fines apply:

What to do now…

If you are in Ontario, we encourage you to IMMEDIATELY contact your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for a meeting to discuss this bill. If you are a business owner, the MPP for the district in which your business operates is also a potential contact.

We recommend that you communicate with your MPP using one or more of the following methods (in order of preference for usual effectiveness):

And follow-up using the same or other method to see if they have any questions or would like additional information. The more they hear from you, the more likely it is that you will remain on their radar.

These regulations WILL affect your vaping business and/or you, personally.

Ideally, ECTA would like to see Schedule 3 completely removed from Bill 174 and resubmitted as a separate bill, but AFTER consulting with industry stakeholders and using science and facts for the legislation as opposed to ideology as a driving force to prohibition.

Relying solely on ideological Public Health agencies for input using theories and myths has proven to be a public health hazard when it comes to the lives of smokers, their loved ones and vaping products.

Quit or die is no longer the only option to potentially save lives.

Silence is consent…

In their news release, “Ontario Taking Further Steps to Protect People from Second-Hand Smoke and Vapour, Strengthening Ontario’s Smoking and Vaping Legislation”, they state that the proposed changes will:

• Prohibit the use of e-cigarettes and the smoking and vaping of medical marijuana in all enclosed public places, enclosed workplaces, and other specified outdoor areas
• Expand the list of places where e-cigarettes are prohibited for sale
• Establish rules for the display and promotion of e-cigarettes in places where they are sold and prohibit the testing of e-cigarettes where they are sold.

In that release, Dipika Damerla, Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care is quoted as saying:

“It is important to ensure that Ontarians are protected from second-hand smoke and from the potential dangers of e-cigarettes. That is why we are proposing these changes and we look forward to the upcoming consultations with our stakeholders.”

In an article published by CityNews Toronto, Premier Kathleen Wynne stated:

“We have made a determination that smoking, whatever it is – whether it’s vaping, whether it’s medical marijuana, whether it’s cigarettes – that there should be restrictions on that,” she said Thursday. “And so the rules will apply to marijuana, to medical marijuana, to vaping as they do to cigarettes.”

The summary for the proposed new regulation is located here: Strengthening Ontario’s Smoking and Vaping Laws

These proposed regulations, as they have been presented, pose a significant negative impact both our industry and the Medical Marijuana industry. Specifically for our industry, they mean:

At the end of the day, we end up with continued propagation of non-evidence based implication and public stigma that vaping is the “same as smoking”. This is a very disappointing proposal from the Ontario Liberal Government that will result in a number of tragic unintended consequences. With these proposed regulations, they are aligning three (3) very different products within the same regulations: Tobacco, Personal Vapourizers (Electronic Cigarettes) and Medical Marijuana.

These regulations are only proposed at this point and are open for public consultation from now through April 24, 2016.

Consultation can be submitted in the form of:

• Comment through their website.
  (Click “Comment on this proposal via email” at the bottom of the page)
• Email sent to:
  SFOA-ECA-Consultations@ontario.ca
• Written Letter by mail:
  Population and Public Health Division
  Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
  777 Bay Street, Suite 1903
  19th floor
  Toronto, ON M7A 1S5

We have an opportunity to provide our input and we encourage everyone to participate in the consultation. Within each section of the Strengthening Ontario’s Smoking and Vaping Lawsproposed changes, the “Discussion” asks very specific questions. Simply answer those questions as clearly and concisely as possible. Maintain professionalism and courtesy or your input will not only be ignored but could potentially do damage to our already unstable position.

The Ottawa Morning show did an interview with David Sweanor, Adjunct Law Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Center for Health Law Policy and Ethics (and long time smoking cessation advocate) on March 11, 2016.

Some of his comments where:

from a public health standpoint, it’s wrong headed.

instead, what we end up with is more of this abstinence only approach of “Let’s treat it all the same” which is very much like saying “Why don’t we treat clean needles and dirty needles the same?” or “Why don’t we treat automobiles the same” regardless of whether they have safety features?

We differentiate on risk in public health and we really need to do that when we deal with issues of nicotine and this isn’t doing that. It’s doing the opposite

One of the problems that we have is if we send a message to people that we’re going to treat these the same even though there’s a huge difference in risk, we simultaneously convince a lot of people who are vaping that “why bother? I may as well be smoking.” and it convinces a lot of smokers that may otherwise have switched, to not.

If you’re really worried about having incense burning or a candle on a table in a restaurant, yeah, there’s risk. They’re just small enough that we really don’t worry about them. The big risk we have here is that we’re dissuading people from getting off combustion.

One of the things that we know about people trying to quit smoking is, the two strongest indications of an unsuccessful quit attempt are to be put in a place where there’s lots of cigarettes and being put in a place where there’s smokers. If you combine those two, you chance of successfully quitting smoking is very small.

We’re almost guaranteeing that people who are trying to get off the product that is our leading cause of preventable death are going to fail”

Sure we’ll allow alcoholics anonymous meetings but we’ll only allow them to be held in a pub, during happy hour.

I don’t think they are doing a health perspective. I think it is much more of a moralistic. It’s looking at nicotine as if it’s a sin, not that it’s a public health issue, we’re going to treat it all the same. And again, the parallel with the war on drugs are very telling.

There are areas where you wouldn’t want vaping going on, but there are an awful lot of areas where it really doesn’t matter. And then they say we’re going to ban it even on outdoor areas. I mean, why would you do that? What’s the health grounds for doing something like that?

We’re going to be sending a message that these products are far more dangerous than they really are.

The hope is that because this is just out for comment, that they will actually listen to the comments this time and they will move to more of a public health approach like we are seeing happen in the UK where E-cigarettes are credited with a huge impact on health and helping people quit smoking.

that absolutist morality almost invariable ends up supporting, reinforcing the very evil that you are trying to conquer.

They (The Ottawa Morning Show) requested comments from vapers, smokers and non-smokers. They can be contacted via Twitter (@OttawaMorning) or Email (OttawaMorning@cbc.ca).

The short of the long is, as of January 1, 2016:

• It is illegal to sell or supply electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and component parts (e.g. battery, atomizer) to anyone under 19 years of age
• Retail locations must have two (2) different signs: Age restriction sign, Identification sign

There is a concise outline of the new rules here:
http://www.ontario.ca/page/electronic-cigarette-vape-rules

For most of us, this is no real change except for the sign specifics and the “legal requirement” to check photo id. A majority already had signs and/or self-enforced the age requirement.

If you have not already done-so, TRAIN YOUR STAFF on proper procedure for Checking Identification:

• Ask for I.D. from everyone who looks under 25
• Familiarize yourself with the acceptable I.D.
• Follow the three easy steps for checking I.D.
• Recognize fake I.D.
• If in doubt – do not sell

Signage should be obtained from your local Public Health Unit. We have been told that most of them do not yet have the new signage but that it should be received within the next few weeks. They said that once they are received, inspectors will be delivering the signage to locations known to sell electronic cigarettes. It is your responsibility to obtain the required signage which means that you MUST contact them so that they know to come to your location. The inspector will be able to assist with placement of the signs, review the regulations and go over any questions you may have.

 NO OTHER NEW LAWS ARE IN EFFECT 

This means that you can (for the time being) continue to use the devices indoors, obviously at the discretion of the location. You can continue to openly talk about and sell your products in plain view. It is “business as usual” in all other aspects.

That is NOT to say that this is any sort of “win”. It is NOT a win at all. It is simply a delay on the additional regulations that have been proposed. They ARE coming and they are not at all favourable in their current form and they will be implemented very soon (within the coming months). That means we still need to continue to strive for and convince our regulators that these regulations are not appropriate for these products.

There is at least one petition that we are aware of that is being circulated within the retail shops that we would encourage people to use. It can be downloaded from here, a Facebook Group (Vapor Advocates of Ontario) or contact Stinky Canuck. Their petition contains instructions, appears to follow the requirements for petitions and should be suitable for submission to parliament.  GET THOSE SIGNATURES!

Additional reference for what is in force and where the information is located:

The “Date in Force” for one of the two entries for the Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015 has been updated on the Ontario Proclamations page with the anticipated date of January 1st, 2016 This means there are new laws in effect for Electronic Cigarettes in Ontario. This proclamation activates the following sections of Bill 45, Schedule 3 (Consolidated Version of Schedule 3):

• 1 : Definitions – Legal definitions of “things” related to the act
• 2 : Selling or supplying to persons under 19 – You can’t
• 6 : Signs in retail stores – These must be specific and in specific locations
• 9 : Vending machines: general prohibition – You can’t
• 10 (4), (5) : Prohibition – As it relates to actions an employer can (or cannot, as it were) take against an employee for complying with the act
• 13 : Inspectors – What they can do and how it will be done
• 14 : Offences – The fines that will be imposed for different violations
• 15 (1) (a)-(f), (h), 15 (2) : Regulations – General “stuffs” related to regulations
• 16 : Crown bound – Binds the Crown to the act

The Regulations that apply to the act have also been updated and Sections Activated based on the proclamation above:

• 1 : Signs – Just says they must be conspicuous and not obstructed from view
• 2 : Identification of persons to be at least 19 – Defines what is suitable for identification purposes
• 3 : Signs at retail – Describes requirements for the signs to be used
• 10 : Procedure for employees – Defines the procedures that employees for complaints

If you have any questions about these new laws, please let us know.

We have been getting a lot of questions about what is happening in Ontario with Bill 45, Schedule 3 (Electronic Cigarette Act).

=== EDIT for clarity ===

NO PROCLIMATION DATE HAS BEEN NAMED BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. Until that date is named by the Lieutenant Governor, these regulations are still only “proposed” and “pending”. Regulations ARE coming but at this time, we only know the “proposed” date and nothing is certain.

Within Bill 45, Schedule 3 (Electronic Cigarette Act), Commencement (Section 19) states “The Act set out in this Schedule comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.”

Searching the Ontario Proclamations website (here) for Electronic Cigarette Act, 2015 clearly indicates that no Date in Force has been specified.

Be ready, however.  You should be able to obtain your signage from your local public health unit.  Do not get caught short because the regulations ARE coming.  It’s just a matter of “when” are they in Force.

=== End EDIT ===

Well, that time has come. We received this email which outlines what is happening with the regulations: Click Here

In brief, the new pending regulations that are supposed to go into effect on January 1st, 2016 under the Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015 covers:

• Prescribes the signs that retailers must display to customers;
• Prescribes the signs that employers and proprietors must post about the ban on using e-cigarettes in certain places;
• Further prohibits e-cigarette use in smoke-free places such as bar and restaurant patios, children’s playgrounds, publicly owned sporting areas, 9 metres from the entrances and exits of certain health care facilities, and the outdoor grounds of public hospitals, private hospitals, psychiatric facilities and certain office buildings owned by the Government of Ontario;
• Prescribes the procedure which must be followed when a home health-care worker exercises his/her right under the Act to leave a home without providing any further services because a person has refused to stop using an e-cigarette in the presence of the worker at the request of the worker;
• Prescribes the procedure that applies when an employee complains that his or her employer has committed an act of reprisal in violation of the Act; Specify that the ban on selling or supplying an e-cigarette to a minor does not apply if the minor is a medical marihuana user who intends to use the e-cigarette for medical purposes;
• Specifies that the ban on using an e-cigarette in smoke-free places does not apply to a medical marihuana user who uses an e-cigarette for medical purposes; and
• Specifies that the ban on using an e-cigarette in an enclosed workplace and enclosed public place does not apply to an actor who uses an e-cigarette in a stage production

The pending regulation details are posted here: http://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/150337

In plain English, for businesses this means:

• You will need some signs at the workplace and/or retail shops
• No sales to anyone under 19 (Only certain ID types are acceptable)
  • A driver’s licence issued by the Province of Ontario with a photograph of the person to whom the licence is issued.
  • A Canadian passport.
  • A Canadian citizenship card with a photograph of the person to whom the card is issued.
  • A Canadian Armed Forces identification card.
  • A photo card issued by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario.
• No using the device (Vaping) in workplaces or retail shops
• No diagnostics in workplaces or retails shops if it requires turning on the assembled device (that’s using the device)

At the end of the day, if you are not allowed to smoke tobacco cigarettes, you are not allowed to use your device.

So, despite all efforts to make any positive changes for use of Electronic Cigarettes, the office of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has chosen to take a hard line for strict regulation, for now.

The regulations that cover Promotion and Display have NOT been drafted yet, which means they would not be in effect. They are supposed to be released for comment sometime in 2016 to be effective in 2017.  This means you can still show and talk about the products with customers.

** UPDATE: December 16, 2015

CBC just posted an article where the Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, Hon Dipika Damerla is quoted as follows:

Damerla said her government would proceed with a ban on selling e-cigarettes to minors beginning January 1, “but we will not be proceeding with the piece around where you can and cannot use electronic cigarettes.”

This is not a win for the industry, “yet” because the article goes further to say:

Damerla said the government committed to reviewing regulations around where medical marijuana can and cannot be vaped and “in that context we’ve just made the decision to bring all of the regulations around where you can and cannot vape at once.”

So this will only be temporary in that we still may not get an exemption for using the devices within Vape Shops.

Stay tuned…

** UPDATE:  December 18th, 2015

A statement was released today by the Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care on New Laws for Electronic Cigarettes and Tobacco.  Although we have not seen an actual change in the posted, pending regulations, Hon. Dipika Damerla stated the following:

“Effective January 1st, 2016, the sale and supply of e-cigarettes to those under the age of 19 will be banned.”

“Early in the new year, we will move to restrict where e-cigarettes can be used. As always, we welcome continued input from all stakeholders as we work together to help protect Ontario’s youth from the dangers of tobacco and the potential harms of e-cigarettes.”

This means, the only restriction that is being applied to Electronic Cigarettes at this time is the “No sales to anyone under the age of 19” which we’ve been in favour of and requested from the beginning.

We encourage everyone to do as he suggests and contact the individuals listed. However, please use the following rules for engagement or your input will most certainly have no value:

• Do not be rude
• Do not be angry
• Do not be aggressive
• State your case in a respectful manner

Though ECTA was not selected to speak to the committee the Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) permitted our Chair to share their time to present.  We were also pleased to see a few of our ECTA members presenting before the committee.

ECTA has prepared and sent a written submission for the Committee review along with a analysis of Bill 45, Section 3 (Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2014) prepared by Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos (Researcher, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Greece, Department of Pharmacology, University of Patras, Greece)

The Committee on General Government will begin clause by clause review on April 27th. The process is not made public and the completion date of this review is unknown at this time.