Health Minister Paul Merriman introduced ‘The Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Amendment Regulations, 2021’, limiting the sale of flavoured vape products. This type of regulation has effectively balanced youth protection with adult harm reduction in Ontario and British Columbia. Mike Smider, the owner of Queen City Vapes in Regina, said that he is behind these new regulations 100 per cent. “I’m all for it. It’s something that we have been asking for a number of years now. It is limiting accessibility, but it offers more control on where the sales of these products are coming from,” he said. “The folks in vape shops we specialize in this stuff. This is what we do for a living; this is our job.”
Regina / 980 CJME
Apr 6, 2021 6:05 PM
In just a few months, all vaping liquids, devices and products will be subject to a 20 per cent retail tax.
That’s on top of the 11 per cent combined Provincial Sales Tax (PST) and Goods and Services Tax (GST) already applied to the items.
The new hike was introduced in Tuesday’s provincial budget, and is aimed at discouraging youth and young adults from picking up the habit of vaping.
Mike Smider, who owns Queen City Vaping in Regina, says the new tax was something he expected but not something he necessarily agrees with.
He said it’s not fair given that other combustible tobacco like cigars and cigarettes weren’t included. And it could potentially affect his business.
(980 CJME file photo)
A Regina vape shop owner is worried possible new restrictions could force people back to smoking cigarettes, along with destroying the industry.
Health Canada is considering a limit on how much nicotine can be in vaping products. Vape advocates have speculated that a ban on flavours could also be in the works.
Mike Smider is the owner of Queen City Vapes in Regina. He said his business wouldn’t be able to continue on if those policies go through.
“With respect to the flavour ban, that would be devastating. We would essentially be limited to tobacco and flavourless, possibly mint and menthol (flavours), which no shop is going to be able to survive on. The majority of adult smokers that we cater to are not vaping (those flavours), they’re after fruits and desserts and all sorts of stuff,” he said in an interview.