Quebec Residents Call for Healthcare Focus, Not E-Cigarette Regulations

On November 29, 2022, residents of Quebec City who use electronic cigarettes are urging the Legault government to focus on healthcare issues that concern Quebecers rather than targeting flavored e-cigarette products in the next parliamentary session.

Quebecers agree that the Legault government must focus on addressing practical issues within the healthcare system. Ironically, if provincial regulators were to accept e-cigarettes as a harm reduction tool, it would be beneficial to public health, according to spokesperson Valerie Gallant. "We visited towns in Ontario and Quebec to educate, empower, and engage. The results were unanimous: Let's preserve our flavors.

A new public opinion survey commissioned by CDVQ and Rights4Vapers found that one-third (33%) of Quebec residents identified access to healthcare as the top priority when considering ten different issues affecting the province's healthcare system. Only 1% of respondents considered the regulation of nicotine to be a top priority, with underage e-cigarette use ranking highest on their list of concerns. One-third (34%) of respondents considered underage nicotine e-cigarette use to be a low priority.

Taste is crucial for adult e-cigarette users, as it sets them apart from traditional smokers. We hope everyone understands that taste is essential for making e-cigarettes a successful harm reduction tool," stated Ms. Gallant.

Despite ongoing threats of spice bans, nicotine restrictions, and increased taxes, as well as continuing misinformation campaigns, Canadian adults who use e-cigarettes have not been deterred, working to ensure that e-cigarette products remain available, accessible, and affordable from coast to coast.

Our investigation has found that Quebec residents believe electronic cigarettes to be a much less harmful substitute for smoking. The problem is that we have government and other publicly funded organizations continuing to create barriers and share inaccurate information about the harm reduction capabilities of electronic cigarettes," said Maria Papaioannoy, spokesperson for Rights4Vapers, one of Canada's vaping rights organizations.

Recent academic and scientific research has supported the views and attitudes of Quebec residents towards e-cigarettes, indicating that they are a less harmful alternative to smoking. Public health authorities around the world have stated that e-cigarettes can be an effective tool to help smokers quit, provided that proper regulation and a social framework are in place.

Electronic cigarette products are the biggest hope for thousands of Canadians who smoke and are looking for a cigarette alternative. In 2021, the UK Department of Public Health released the latest tobacco research review, stating that "the best thing smokers can do is quit smoking completely. Evidence suggests that electronic cigarettes are one of the most effective smoking cessation aids, helping around 50,000 smokers quit each year.

According to a recent study conducted by the Consumer Choice Center, there are over 1.5 million adult electronic cigarette users in Canada.

The survey, which was conducted online by Delphi Polling & Consulting from September 7th to September 13th, utilized a population sample of 1201 Quebec residents aged 19 and over. The survey was offered in both English and French and utilized quotas based on age, gender, provincial region, and language set in the last census. While margin of error does not apply to online polls, a comparable margin of error is +/-3%, 19 times out of 20.

2FIRSTS will continue to provide coverage on this topic, with further updates available on the "2FIRSTSAPP". Scan the QR code below to download the app.