Yesterday’s Federal Budget unfairly puts the responsibility for paying for the new drug plan program squarely on the shoulders of Canadians who vape and smoke. And it is a pipe dream.

In a move that will result in a public health crisis for Canada, Minister of Health, Mark Holland, announced in March that he plans push through the regulations announced three years ago to ban all flavours of vapour products, except mint, menthol and tobacco. However, adult Canadians who vape and their allies have made it clear that this is unacceptable.

Three years ago, Health Canada published draft regulations that, among other things, would ban the sale of all flavours of vapour products, except mint, menthol, and tobacco. During the public consultations on the new regulations, over 20,000 Canadians wrote to oppose this measure.

Here is a response that one Canadian received from the office of their MP, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson So much misinformation, stigmatizing language and lack of empathy. Thank you for writing to Jonathan about the regulation of vaping products, and your specific concerns about a ban on flavoured vapes. Due to the volume of correspondence that our office is receiving, Jonathan has requested that I respond on his behalf.