TobaccoReporter logo

Tag: CVA

  • CVA Urges Education Over Prohibition as Youth Vaping Declines

    CVA Urges Education Over Prohibition as Youth Vaping Declines

    The Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) is calling on federal and provincial health ministers to prioritize youth prevention and education programs over restrictive vaping bans, warning that prohibitionist policies could fuel the illicit market and push adult smokers back to cigarettes. CVA President Sam Tam said measures such as flavor bans would undermine harm-reduction efforts that have helped millions quit smoking, noting that tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in Canada. The group emphasized that prohibition “leaves adult smokers with nowhere to turn except back to tobacco use,” threatening Canada’s goal of reducing smoking rates below 5% by 2035.

    Citing new Statistics Canada data, the CVA said youth vaping rates among Canadians aged 12–17 have fallen to 7.2% in 2025, nearly half the 2019 peak, crediting education-focused initiatives such as Health Canada’s “I Quit for Me” program. The association also highlighted research showing that flavored vaping products are crucial in helping adults switch from cigarettes, referencing studies by McGill University, Public Health England, and the Public Health Agency of Canada. The CVA warned that banning legal, regulated products would drive consumers to the black market, where unregulated, high-strength nicotine products are easily accessible to youth. Instead, the group urged governments to back evidence-based regulation, support enforcement, and expand youth cessation resources rather than pursuing prohibitionist approaches.

  • CVA Says Vape Numbers are Being Misrepresented

    CVA Says Vape Numbers are Being Misrepresented

    The 2025 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth revealed a near 50% decline in youth vaping, with past 30-day use among Canadians aged 12–17 dropping to 7.2%, from 2019’s record-high of 13.2%.  

    “Despite this clear progress, certain anti-vaping organizations continue to misrepresent data, inflating perceptions of youth vaping prevalence to justify restrictive policies that overlook the needs of adult consumers,” the Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) said.

    In December 2024, Health Canada published the first Canadian Substance Use Survey (CSUS) 2023, which included a redesigned sampling methodology aimed at improving the representation of respondents aged 15–24. Most importantly, the survey’s Technical Notes explicitly caution against comparing the CSUS 2023 results to prior studies, including the Canadian Tobacco and Drug Survey (2013–2017) and the Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey (2019–2022), due to the fundamental methodological changes.  

    Despite this clear disclaimer, several prominent anti-vaping organizations erroneously compared the data regardless of the warnings, claiming “a third of teenagers vape” as a justification to fast-track flavor restrictions, according to the CVA. “By blurring the line between adult and youth use and disregarding Health Canada’s guidance, these groups distort public understanding, stifle meaningful health dialogues, and risk driving reactionary, unsound policy decisions,” the organization said.   

    “Misleading claims about youth vaping rates distract from the real public health opportunity: supporting adult smokers seeking less harmful alternatives,” said Sam Tam, president of the CVA. “With youth use at historic lows, policymakers should now focus on harm reduction for the 4.6 million Canadian adults who smoke, the group that benefits the most from regulated, less harmful alternatives.” 

    The CVA emphasized that vaping remains an important tool for those looking to get off cigarettes, restricting access or imposing excessive regulations on adult-focused products risks driving former smokers back to deadly tobacco use or unregulated products purchased from illicit markets. 

    “The data is clear: youth vaping has been declining since its peak in 2019,” Tam said. “However, it remains a critical issue, and CVA remains committed to prevention and education efforts to sustain this downward trend. Now is the time to build on this progress by ensuring that Canadians have access to accurate information and safer alternatives. We call on health leaders and policymakers to align strategies with the evidence: protect youth through continued education and stronger enforcement, while empowering adults to make informed choices and reducing the stigma around being a smoker.” 

  • CVA Says Flavors Not Cause of Youth Vaping

    CVA Says Flavors Not Cause of Youth Vaping

    Image: Tobacco Reporter archive

    Recent claims by health advocates blaming flavored e-cigarettes for the rise in youth vaping are unfounded and lack proper context, according to the Canadian Vaping Association (CVA). The real issue, according to the advocacy group, is the lack of enforcement of the illicit trade and individuals buying for minors.

    “The CVA stands by its position that flavors are not the cause of youth vaping,” the CVA wrote in a statement. “The problem is the sale of vaping products to minors through the black market and straw sale. The industry has taken a proactive approach by implementing stringent age verification measures for our membership and [is] actively working with law enforcement to prevent such sales.”

    “I will be reaching out to all the health advocacy groups to extend an invitation to form a working group. Our intention is to work together to address these complex issues and find practical and enforceable solutions. Canadians deserve to have all stakeholders working together for the betterment of public health,” said Darryl Tempest, government relations counsel to the CVA board.

    The CVA believes that policies must be evidence based and consider the interests of all stakeholders. The CVA encourages health organizations to work with industry leaders and regulatory bodies to find common sense policies that will protect youth while supporting the health outcomes of adults battling addiction.