The MLA for Kamloops-South Thompson says the province needs to stop talking about bringing in legislation to end youth vaping and actually do it.
Todd Stone was speaking out after the province announced the first possible vaping related illness in B.C. on Wednesday.
With hundreds of cases already in the US and Canada, Stone says he knew this day was coming.
“I point back to the call for action that you know has reached a crescendo across the province form educators to parents to health officials calling on the BC Government to take action to combat this surging rate of vaping particularly amongst our youth,” he said.
Stone adds he had introduced a private members bill six months ago calling for provincial action to address youth vaping, which the Health Ministry says is coming.
“It’s all the more reason that we need to stop talking about it. We need to stop wringing our hands waiting for other jurisdictions to take action and we need to move on this here in British Columbia to first and foremost protect our kids from the very negative health effects of vaping and potentially long term nicotine addiction,” added Stone.
“I hope that they are going to take action very very quickly.”
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry didn’t say where the vaping related illness was reported, but she did say there are several other investigations happening that could all have the same outcome.