The B.C. government is taking a hard line on vaping manufacturers and distributors with new legislation aimed at recovering health care costs and protecting youth from the dangers of nicotine addiction.
Introduced October 8, the Vaping Product Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act would allow the province to sue companies that mislead the public about the safety of their products, particularly those that appeal to youth. The law empowers B.C. to seek compensation for public health costs linked to vaping-related illness and injury — though it doesn’t require the government to pursue legal action.
Attorney General Niki Sharma says this law mirrors past successful efforts to hold tobacco and opioid companies accountable. In August, B.C. received the first $1 billion payment in a $3.6 billion tobacco lawsuit settlement. B.C. is also leading lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and consulting firm McKinsey for their role in the overdose crisis.
The new vaping law complements current education and prevention efforts, including the A to Z of Vaping campaign and QuitNow.ca, a resource to help people quit smoking or vaping.
Education Minister Lisa Beare emphasized the importance of keeping dangerous substances out of schools and supporting students to make informed health decisions.
The Province is also exploring legislation to address the health effects of forever chemicals known as PFAs.
With this new bill, B.C. continues its commitment to holding corporations accountable when profit comes at the cost of public health.
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