Ottawa, Ontario – October 10, 2024 – Rights4Vapers, Canada’s largest vapers’ rights and safer nicotine advocacy movement, is calling on the federal government to dismantle and defund so- called tobacco control organizations and implement changes to reflect the new realities of tobacco harm reduction.

“Over the past 10 years, since vaping entered the market, we’ve seen a disturbing pattern of fearmongering, misinformation, and deliberate efforts to push people back toward smoking,” said Maria Papaioannoy, spokesperson for Rights4Vapers. “The fact is that we have a wide variety of reduced harm nicotine products out there. They are proven to be less harmful than cigarettes, why are we denying Canadians who smoke the opportunity to save their own lives?”

Today, Rights4Vapers is asking for three things:

1. Reform of Tobacco Control Organizations

We are calling on the government and Health Canada to dismantle and defund the current structure of tobacco control organizations in Canada. They are NOT advocates of improving public health in Canada. Last week, we witnessed these organizations publicly pressure the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions to take swift action, showing little concern for the broader consequences.

2. The Need for More Federal Leadership

We need the federal government to work with their provincial counterparts to implement consistent regulations. Today there are different regulations in each of the provinces. This results in the proliferation of the black market and confusion.

We also urge Health Canada to pause its involvement with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and reconsider attending COP 11 in Geneva. Canada needs to advocate for tobacco harm reduction as part of the global strategy, ensuring vaping and other safer nicotine products are recognized for their role in helping people quit smoking.

3. A New Legislative Framework

We call on the Senate to create a new framework for dealing with nicotine products, through the introduction of the Safer Nicotine Act. This bill would ensure that all safer nicotine products are regulated fairly and equally, focusing on who needs them, not who created them.

“We are at a game changing moment. If we continue along the same path as we have been, we will not achieve a Smoke Free Canada. It’s evident that the outdated approaches are failing,” said Ms. Papaioannoy. “By focus on real change and putting an end to the theatrics we can make a real difference for Canadians who smoke and ultimately make Canada healthier.”