Opinion: Why is the federal government delaying a crucial infrastructure project that won’t cost a cent? 

Building crucial infrastructure has become a priority for the federal government, for many good reasons. But amidst all the talk of pipelines, ports and fast trains, the government needs to remember another type of vital infrastructure — a healthy population.

Five years and four federal health ministers ago, in 2021, the federal government unveiled draft regulations to restrict the sale of most flavoured vaping products — those ubiquitous puffers that deliver highly addictive nicotine in enticing fruit, candy and other flavours.

The proposed regulations have still not been finalized and put into action. There have been three public consultations. The current minister, Marjorie Michel, said in May she intends to get it done “as soon as possible.”

The time for action is now.

A healthier population is perhaps one of the most important investments in “crucial infrastructure” that Canada can make. And the best part is that this won’t cost a cent. It’s an issue the federal government decided on five years ago and just needs to implement.

The debate over whether flavoured vapes encourage youth vaping is over. The question is no longer what should be done, but why the implementation is still pending. Canadians have been waiting while a whole cohort of youth have been exposed to, and enticed by, flavoured vaping products.

What does five years of delay look like?

A Grade 7 student who experimented with flavoured vapes when the regulations were first introduced may now be in Grade 12, living with a serious nicotine addiction and needing a hit every few hours, day and night, to stave off withdrawal symptoms. Other younger kids are well along the same road.

Canada continues to have unacceptably high rates of youth vaping — more than one in four Grade 12 students (27 per cent) and more than one in five Grade 11 students (22 per cent) vape. This is very troubling — and unnecessary. Flavours such as Peach Ice and Strawberry Kiwi play a significant role in attracting young people to vaping.

The consequences extend beyond youth experimentation. As of 2022, an estimated 730,000 Canadians who vape had never smoked. Flavoured products, together with aggressive marketing, have helped create a new generation of nicotine users. With similarly addictive nicotine pouches now in the market, the urgency to act has only increased.

The health risks of vaping are real, particularly for young people. In addition to addiction, the latest research documents proven harms, including an increased risk of infections, a weakened immune system, respiratory problems, high blood pressure and damaged blood vessels, as well as an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Fortunately, six of the 13 provinces and territories have not waited for the federal government and have implemented their own comprehensive flavour bans. But nearly three-quarters of Canadians live in jurisdictions that allow the sale of flavoured vapes, including three of the four largest — Ontario, B.C. and Alberta.