Quebec tables bill to crack down on e-cigarettes

The Quebec government tabled a bill in the National Assembly Tuesday afternoonto restrict the use of electronic cigarettes, among other measures.

If Bill 44 is adopted, it would be forbidden to smoke e-cigarettes in public places.

• Tougher smoking laws on the way in Quebec

"You won't be able to smoke anywhere you smoke a real cigarette. You won't be able to smoke in a restaurant. You'll have to be ninemetres from the door...All the laws that are there for regular cigarettes, you're going to have to respect that,"saidLucieCharlebois, Quebec's junior minister for public health, who tabled the bill.

Merchants would also beprohibited fromselling e-cigarettes to minors.

The bill also outlines hefty fines for merchants violating the Tobacco Act. Retailers repeatedlycaught selling tobacco to minors could be fined $250,000.

Businessessuch as restaurants and barsthat repeatedly allow customers to smoke on their terrassescould face fines of $100,000.

"I saw my father die of lung cancer, because he was smoking too much. I don't have to explain to you how horrible it was. There are10,000 people dying every year from cancerfrom smoking. So we've got to do something," Charlebois said.

The bill also cracks down on second-hand smoke, calling for a ban on smoking inside a vehicle when a minor under the age of 16 is present.

No smoking on terrasses

The current smoking ban in bars or restaurants would also be extended to include terrasses.

In addition, the governmentsays it plans to ban flavoured tobacco, which is generally popular with young smokers.

"What we want to do is prevent youths from starting to smoke...For me, as a grandmother, I do not want to see my grandchildren exposed to that," Charlebois said, adding thatconsultations will be held to hear from people in the industrybefore MNAsvote on the bill.