Nunavut province in Canada strengthens its measures against tobacco and other nicotine products

In Canada, the territory of Nunavut (NU) has adopted new tobacco and vaping legislation, which will ban the sale of all flavored tobacco and nicotine products and related accessories, and expand tobacco- and vaping-free spaces, including a ban on smoking and vaping in publicly owned rental properties.

Nunavut Bill 57[1], tobacco legislation, was passed in third reading on May 28, 2021. This is the first overhaul of legislation on this subject in Nunavut in 15 years. The measures in this new text go well beyond the provisions currently in force, particularly with regard to smoke-free places. The objective is to protect the Nunavummiut population from second-hand smoke, to reduce the visibility of all tobacco and nicotine products at points of sale and to reduce the accessibility of these products to minors.

According to the 2017-2018 annual report on tobacco control legislation and vaping products in Nunavut, the rate of tobacco and vaping product users, 74%, is four times higher than the national average. In addition, 5% of 12- to 19-year-olds use tobacco or nicotine products compared to 8% nationally for this age group[2].

Strengthened measures to protect young people from nicotine

This bill extends the provisions on tobacco to e-cigarettes, banning the sale of vaping products to minors under 19 (anyone who appears to be under 25 and wishes to purchase a tobacco or vaping product must provide proof of identity), removing the display of vaping products in a store, and banning the sale of e-cigarettes in places where the sale of tobacco is prohibited. Existing legislation already prohibited the use of e-cigarettes where tobacco smoking is prohibited. Other restrictions on vaping include regulating products with a maximum permitted nicotine concentration in liquids and banning the sale of flavored vaping products. The ban on flavors is extended to all tobacco and nicotine products and accessories (hookah tobacco, flavored cards that can be added to cigarette packs, etc.).

Other measures also include a ban on advertising and promotion of all tobacco and nicotine products in any place where minors under the age of 19 are allowed to enter.

Protecting residents from passive exposure

The Tobacco and Vaping Products Act, 2021 prohibits smoking and vaping in publicly owned rental accommodations and Government of Nunavut staff housing.[3]Smoking and vaping will also be prohibited in all vehicles (closed or not) in the presence of minors.

The areas where smoking of any product is prohibited and the surrounding areas (near buildings, doors and windows of public places where smoking is prohibited) have been expanded. Smoking is now prohibited while waiting to enter a public place, workplace, building or condominium (this could apply to a queue that extends beyond the perimeter), outside bars and restaurants, at a bus stop, on playgrounds, sports fields, sidewalks or pedestrian areas, as well as construction sites and many outdoor work areas (Nuvanaut will thus become the first province to ban smoking and vaping on construction sites).

On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day[4], Nunavut launched a new smoke-free places awareness campaign that includes posters for public buildings, information cards, videos, social media posts, and public service announcements. Health professionals across the territory were also provided with tools to inform Nunavummiut about these new smoke-free places.

These new measures will make Nunavut one of the most restrictive Canadian provinces in terms of the fight against tobacco and other products.

Keywords: Canada, Nunavut, Smoke-free places, Tobacco control, Regulation, Nicotine

©Generation Without Tobacco

[1] Second Session, Fifth Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, Government Bill, Bill No. 57, law regulating the fight against smoking and tobacco use, May 28, 2021

[2] Nunavut updating smoking legislation to combat rates highest in the country, Nunavut News, January 18, 2021, accessed June 10, 2021

[3] Derek Neary, GN bans smoking in public housing, flavored vaping in new legislation, Nunavut News, May 31, 2021, accessed June 10, 2021

[4] On World No Tobacco Day, Nunavut government launches smoke-free places, Nunatsiaq News, May 31, 2021, accessed June 10, 2021