Pubdate: Sat, 12 Mar 2016 Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2016 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/letter-to-editor Website: http://www.ottawasun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329 Author: Chris Lowrey Page: 4 PROVINCE BLOWING SMOKE: VAPING ADVOCATES "We're taking some of the most vulnerable people in our society and we further disadvantage them" Critics say the Ontario government will hurt those using e-cigarettes as a smoking-cessation aide by reglating them the same way it does traditional smokes. A new law, which would come into effect on July 1, would ban "vaping" from any area where cigarettes are currently banned. The City of Ottawa has already banned e-cigarettes from all city facilities, OC Transpo and some outdoor spaces. "We're taking some of the most vulnerable people in our society and we further disadvantage them," said David Sweanor, adjunct professor of law at the University of Ottawa. "How can you justify that as a policy?" Action on Smoking and Health is a public health charity based out of Britain that aims to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco. According to a study published on the ASH website, "compared to tobacco products, electronic cigarettes are significantly safer." The Ontario government says it is moving to protect people from second-hand smoke and vapour. Sweanor argues that the danger posed by e-cigarettes is negligible, especially compared to harmful things we encounter on a daily basis. "Second hand vapour just isn't a problem based on the science." "We're trying to normalize smoking cessation," Sweanor said. "What this legislation does is the opposite." Karim Yassine, owner of Electronic Cigarettes Ottawa, agrees with Sweanor. "It's going to make quitting smoking harder," Yassine said. Despite the fact that Yassine is in the business of selling e-cigarettes, he said Prof. David Sweanor regulations could be a good thing. He compared the current e-cigarette landscape to the Wild West. However, according to Yassine, the reason people have reservations about e-cigarettes is a lack of available information. "Some people see the vapour and think it's shocking," Yassine said. "'Where there's smoke there's fire' and they just don't understand the difference." Premier Kathleen Wynne has said the rules around e-cigarettes need to be updated. "We have made a determination that smoking, whatever it is - whether it's vaping, whether it's medical marijuana, whether it's cigarettes - that there should be restrictions on that," Wynne said. Sweanor disagrees. "If we took a rational approach to public health instead of saying 'Just say no,' I think we could have a real breakthrough." - - With files from The Canadian Press - --- MAP posted-by: Matt