The Chatham-Kent Board of Health is being asked to join many other boards of health in endorsing amendments to a provincial bill aimed at better protecting children and youth from vaping-related harms.
A recommendation going before board members on Monday says the high prevalence of nicotine vaping among Ontario youth continues to raise concern.
The report cites many gaps remaining in the regulation of vapour products despite provincial progress in tobacco control policies, declining smoking rates, and reduced exposure to secondhand smoke.
In Chatham-Kent (CK), self-reported vaping amongst high school students is higher than the provincial average at approximately 20 per cent, according to data from the Lambton-Kent District School Board in 2024, cited in the report.
"Youth who vape nicotine are also more likely to start smoking tobacco cigarettes or develop a substance use disorder in the future," said Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada.
According to the report, excessive vaping advertising and promotion, attractive fruit, candy, and dessert flavours, and easy access to vapour products increase attraction to vaping.
Nearly 60 per cent of Ontario youth report that vapes are easy to get, according to the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey.
Students in CK are most likely to access these products through social sources, online sellers, or unlicensed retailers in neighbouring jurisdictions, the report noted.
Health Canada explains that vaping can negatively affect physical and mental health, particularly among youth.
Potential effects include shortness of breath, coughing, nausea, headaches, mouth and throat irritation, and reduced exercise capacity.
Nicotine can also interfere with brain development, potentially impacting memory, attention, emotional regulation, and decision-making, while contributing to poorer school performance among youth, Health Canada added.
Bill 125, Smoke-Free Ontario Amendment Act (Vaping is Not for Kids), 2026, passed the first reading in the Ontario legislature in May.
It proposes the following amendments to the current bill:
• Prohibiting the promotion of vapour products
• Prohibiting the sale of tobacco or vapour products to individuals under 21 years old, proposed from the current 19 years old
• Prohibiting the sale of flavoured vapour products except for tobacco flavour
• Prohibiting the sale of vapour products anywhere other than specialty vape stores
• Tax revenue generated by vapour products must be used to educate the public about the health effects of vaping
• Requiring Ontario Health to create an annual report to the Minister regarding current information on youth vaping as well as policy recommendations
A youth vaping specialist in Qatar, cited in the report, noted that 43 per cent of youth who currently vape flavoured products claim they would quit vaping if flavours were removed.
The report noted that increasing the minimum age of purchasing e-cigarettes to 21 is one of several important components to reduce youth vaping.
In 2021, the federal government pledged to ban flavoured vapour products, but it has not done so.
Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Quebec have already banned flavoured vapes.
