INNISFAIL - The provincial and federal governments should act now to address vaping by young people and the negative impacts associated with the practice, according to area school board trustees.
Alberta School Boards Association (ASAB) Zone 4 trustees recently put forward and approved a resolution that calls for tougher vaping regulations for young people.
Connie Huelsman, a Chinook’s Edge School Division trustree, is the chair of ASBA Zone 4.
“We hope that provincially and federally that it would have the same parameters around it as cigarettes,” Huelsman said in an interview.
“That’s basically where we are at. We are trying to lobby to have it recognized that it should be the same as smoking (tobacco).”
Vaping is the inhaling of the aerosol or vapour produced by an e-cigarette, vaping pen or similar device. The vapour can contain nicotine and other chemicals.
The ASBA resolution calls on the federal and provincial governments to “align restrictions on the consumption, promotion, marketing and sale of vaping products with those on tobacco products.”
The resolution will come before the fall general meeting of the ASBA, where 61 school boards will vote on it.
“If it passes, ASBA can then take a provincial stand on this important issue,” Huelsman added in a press release.
“After years of real progress in creating a smoke-free generation, we are slipping back with the real risk of significant numbers of youth being addicted to nicotine and becoming smokers.”
Students at most grade levels are vaping, including athletes, artists and academic students, she said.
“Not only have our schools seen a significant increase in students using vaping products, it now ranks as the number 1 reason for student suspensions in some jurisdictions,” she said.
“Students are using vaping products outside, as well as in bathrooms, hallways and classrooms. Also concerning are reports from health officials who believe there may be a link between vaping and an increase in teenage cigarette smoking for the first time in 30 years.”
The highly addictive nature of these products, as well as the cocktail of other dangerous and toxic chemicals within vaping products could have dangerous health consequences such as lung damage, cancer and harm to brain development, she said.
“Legislation is not keeping up with the new realities of vaping in our schools,” she said. “It’s time for action. It’s time our governments worked together to address this significant health issue facing our youth.”
Red Deer Public Schools brought the motion to the Zone 4 level, and Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools seconded it.
All of the eight member boards then voted in support of the motion.
There are eight school jurisdictions in ASBA Zone 4, representing more than 56,000 students and employing more than 6,500 staff members.
The Chinook’s Edge School Division is headquartered in Innisfail and operates 40 schools in Central Alberta.
