New West is seeking support from other cities to regulate vaping in B.C.
At its Feb. 24 meeting, council unanimously passed a motion to have the province include retail stores primarily used for selling e-cigarettes in the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch. The motion also seeks restrictions that regulate where and how many of these retail stores are able to receive business licences in a community.
“Despite federal and provincial regulations prohibiting the sale of vapour products to youth, municipalities have limited powers and jurisdictions to regulate vaping,” said a staff report. “Given that the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) oversees provincial liquor and cannabis regulations, it is suggested that the LCRB also oversee provincial liquor and cannabis regulations, it is suggested that the LCRB also oversee the regulation and licensing of vape establishments.”
As part of that goal, the city will submit a resolution to the Lower Mainland Local Government Association (LMLGA) calling on the province to include stores used primarily for selling e-cigarettes in its Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch. If New West council’s motion is endorsed by the LMLGA, it would then be submitted to the Union of BC Municipalities at its annual convention in September.
“It's really important,” said Coun. Tasha Henderson. “We don't have a lot of tools right now, so [I’m] excited to take this one to LMLGA and hopefully UBCM in the fall.”
Coun. Daniel Fontaine said he hopes the motion will be endorsed by the LMLGA and the Union of BC Municipalities and implemented provincewide.
In December 2024, council unanimously approved Fontaine’s motion to have staff report back on options that are within council’s jurisdiction to limit the overall number and locations of business licences issued for new vape shops.
At the same meeting, council unanimously supported Henderson’s amendment to ask the province to include retail stores used primarily for the sale of electronic nicotine or e-cigarettes under the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch and thereby include restrictions that regulate where and how many of these retail stores are able to receive business licences in a community. She also proposed that the city’s vaping resolution be forwarded to the LMLGA.
“The sooner we can get a handle of this, whether it be it at the LMLGA or UBCM or, ideally, provincewide, the better I think it will be as a community,” Fontaine said. “But time is of the essence, because it feels like every time I'm driving down one street or another, another vape shop has opened or seems to be about opening.”
Mayor Patrick Johnstone said he expects the majority of members of the Lower Mainland Local Government Association to “strongly support” the motion from New Westminster.
