Canada (news). The British Parliament has passed a bill proposing the toughest anti-smoking measures in the world. Children born after Dec. 31, 2008, will be banned from ever buying cigarettes, even as adults. As Touria Izri reports, opinions surrounding the ban are mixed.
Health Minister Marjorie Michel said Wednesday that she is “looking into” the idea of banning future Canadian generations from purchasing cigarettes and toughening other tobacco product restrictions after such a law was passed in the United Kingdom.
British lawmakers last week approved the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which introduces a rolling age restriction permanently barring anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2009, from buying cigarettes.
“I’m looking into it right now,” Michel told reporters when asked if Canada might follow suit after leaving the Liberal cabinet meeting in Ottawa. “We saw what the U.K. did, but I’m looking into it with all partners for now.”
Justice Minister Sean Fraser said he is not part of any discussions that may be taking place when asked by reporters.
“I have not discussed that explicitly with Minister Michel,” he said.
“She’s my seatmate in the House, so I suspect we’re going to have a chat today,” he added. “I’ve got a personal opinion on it but I have not been engaged formally in the policy development process.”Fraser said he supported “doing anything we can to reduce the consumption of tobacco products amongst young people,” and that preventing people from smoking at a young age would “reduce the social harm across Canada from tobacco.”
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