The MLA for Kamloops South says there has been an explosion among youth who are using E-cigarettes or vaping devices despite rules to the contrary.

Todd Stone says as an MLA, and especially as a father of three young daughters, he has been shocked to see how many students at his kid’s schools are vaping.

Stone says B.C. is leading the way in restricting vaping devices from being used by young people, but…

“Clearly there is a gap here in terms of getting through to youth in our schools who are trying it and doing it in record numbers,” he said. “What I am increasingly learning here is that I believe there are some gaps with respect to enforcement at the retail level.”

“Somehow these devices are making there way into the hands of way too many of our kids.”

He says the federal government must ban flavoured juices used in vaping marketed at children, adding that school districts also need better prevention resources.

He says Interior Health is running a promising pilot project aimed at youth in Vernon.

“With those kids in grades nine and ten that have actually been through this preventure program, it is called, there has been a very significant decline in vaping usage.”

SD73 recently held a seminar focusing on the amount of online advertising and misrepresentation and how it affects today’s youth.