Imperial Tobacco says Bill 54 focuses on the wrong part of youth vaping problem
Imperial Tobacco Canada shares the Manitoba government's objective of preventing youth from accessing vaping products. “No young person should vape,” said their press release. “Any retailer or online seller that provides nicotine products to minors should face serious consequences.”
The tobacco company added that this framework is “inconsistent and may look effective on paper” but does not address how youth actually obtain these products. Even the Manitoba Lung Association has pointed out that youth are accessing vaping products through social sources and online channels.
"Manitoba is right to want stronger youth protection, but Bill 54 misses the mark," said Eric Gagnon, the vice-president of corporate and regulatory affairs for Imperial Tobacco Canada. "When youth access is happening through friends, online sellers and non-compliant retailers, removing products from the most compliant retail channels is not evidence-based policy."
Health Canada's compliance data shows the gap: The latest federal compliance information indicates less than 1% of convenience stores were found non-compliant during inspections, compared with 43% of specialty vape shops.
"Policies that target law-abiding retailers while leaving online and illicit channels under-enforced will not protect youth," added Gagnon. "They will push more consumers toward unregulated products, weaken responsible retail oversight and make enforcement harder."
