E-cigarette laws slowed in Nova Scotia by NDP, PC

Nova Scotia's opposition parties continue to slow down passage of a government bill which will banthe use of e-cigarettes, water pipes, and vaporizers in public places

The NDP and the PCs argue the governing Liberals have abandoned plans to ban flavoured e-cigarette juice and flavoured tobacco.

The original bill included the ban, but the Liberals dropped it after dozens of people spoke against it.

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The opposition wants the clause reinstated, but Leo Glavine, the minister of health, wont do that.

"Not at the present time. We are going to take time and do as we said: talk to a number of people over the next while and have the flavoured tobacco legislation ready for the spring," he said.

Glavine says tougher rules on flavoured tobacco and certain flavours of e-juice will be coming in those new amendments.

Biting the elephant

Maureen MacDonald, the interim leader of the NDP, believes the governments decision was influenced by tobacco companies.

"It's like eating an elephant. You do it one piece at a time. One bite at a time. And every one of us has an obligation to take our turn at taking that bite out of the elephant, she said of tobacco companies.

The Nova Scotiagovernment'slegislation would banthe use of e-cigarettes, water pipes, and vaporizers in public places.

It now plans to consult with Nova Scotianson if certain flavours should be exempted from the proposed ban. Some e-cigarette businesses say that as that product contains no tobacco, it shouldn't be included in the same legislation.