"There is nicotine in eggplants, tomatoes, potatoes, cauliflower, and brussel sprouts"

Bill 45 was created with the intention of making Ontario healthier through a variety of initiatives, from food choices to smoke free areas.

Despite the intent of the legislation, the latest ruling in Making Healthier Choices Act that has some Ontarians up in arms.

The new rules would ban vaping and medical marijuana use anywhere cigarette smoking is banned.

New E-cigarette rules were to come into effect January 1, but when many in the public learned of the exemption on medicinal marijuana and its use, the Ontario government had to go back to the drawing board.

The proposal now is clear, no vaping where there is no smoking. But this legislation isn’t easy for at least one Barrie business to swallow.

Butt Out and Vape shop provides an alternative to smoking tobacco

Brett Coleman is the manager at the downtown Butt Out And Vape location. The E-cigarette lounge and store relies on customers who like to relax and vape without bothering those who don’t. The new bill would not allow in-store usage of what some see as a healthier choice than smoking.

“With Bill 45 in its current form, it really will impact vape stores like ourselves in that they are not going to allow vaping in the actual store,” said Coleman. “We’re okay with not vaping in restaurants and the malls; that’s common sense. But our customers come in trying to make a healthier choice, trying to get off tobacco which is what we’re here for. For our customers to come in and just grab one of our 140 flavours doesn’t work as they’d like to sample. The LCBO has taste test booths in the store, why is that not illegal? You can’t drink in public...It’s that mindset that doesn’t really resonate with us.”

The Dunlop street vaping lounge is one of many in Ontario that caters to the fairly new activity that is sometimes regarded as a better choice than smoking by some users.

Although some studies claim that vaping can be less harmful to users than cigarette smoking, there are many years of research that will be required before a final determination on its health effects. E-cigarettes are still too new to have substantiative studies released on them. 

“We aren’t saying vaping is 100% safe, but it is very well known to be much safer than tobacco use,” claimed Coleman. “This is not smoking. There is a clear distinction there. People who want to lump us in with tobacco, lump us in with cannabis really aren’t getting the point. We’re not cannabis, you can’t use our stuff with cannabis or tobacco. There is nicotine, sure, like there is nicotine in eggplants, tomatoes, potatoes, cauliflower, and brussel sprouts. There’s nicotine in a lot of stuff. It’s not tobacco. It’s not smoke.”

The vaping industry held a rally at Queen’s Park last year and has given the government their side of the argument. Despite this, Coleman is still frustrated at the attitude toward vaping.                  

“All of our research, first-hand testimonies and many prominent advocates have been summarily pushed aside without any consideration and those in charge have decided to push ahead without any real reason," said Coleman. "As a matter of fact, Dipika Darmela [Associate Health Minister and Mississauga East-Cooksville MPP] drafted up the Bill but doesn’t include the many hookah and shisha lounges in her riding.”

Barrie resident Russell Gatpandan took up vaping in October. He says he is okay with the ruling of not allowing vaping in malls and public areas, but doesn’t like the bad name that it gets.

“I was smoking about a pack a day before I started vaping,” said Gatpandan, as he vaped outside Bayfield Mall. “I hear that this is about 90% safer than smoking tobacco. I don’t feel like it should be an issue if folks have a designated place, but I do agree with not doing it in malls and such.”

Some bar and restaurant owners in town do not feel that the new rule will not greatly impact daily operations. Donaleigh’s Irish Public House, just west on Dunlop street of Butt Out And Vape lounge, has has a large list of loyal customers.

“When the craze started, we had people coming and vape. The same thing that happened that would with people who smoke; there were complaints,” said William Gair, HR Operations Manager at Donaleigh's. “It was still a vapour in the air that people see, that people smell, that people breathe in. So regardless of any bill being put forth, we will continue to look out for the whole pub and restaurant and ask that if you want to vape, you go outside.”

Find more information on Bill 45 Making Healthier Choices Act here.