The Middlesex London Health Unit is applauding the province's move to treat e-cigarettes just like tobacco.
The Wynne government introduced legislation Monday that would ban the sale of e-cigarettes to minors and ban their use in restaurants, bars, and public buildings.
Medical officer of health Dr. Christopher Mackie says, despite what many believe, e-cigarettes can turn a non-smoker into a smoker.
"You are seeing youth smoking e-cigarettes, and e-cigarette cartridges are much more expensive than cigarettes," says Dr. Mackie. "So, as soon as they realize that, they are already addicted to nicotine. There will be many, many children who would be turning to cigarettes staight out of e-cigarettes."
The government is also moving to ban all flavoured tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes.
It's giving the tobacco industry up to two years to phase out menthol cigarettes.
But Dr. Mackie says the battle over tobacco is far from over.
He says he fully expects the industry to adapt to the new provincial regulations.
"There's no doubt that industry will react to this and adapt its marketing strategies and will probably come up with innovative new ways of getting people hooked, so we'll see where it ends up."
