ONLINE ACCESS: ARE OUR YOUTH REALLY SAFE?

Youth access to nicotine products is an important problem for governments to act on. Unfortunately, their solutions restrict adult access to the legal market, while turning a blind eye to the primary source for youth access - the growing illegal online market.

As part of Bill C-69, there is an amendment to the Food and Drugs Act that would give the Minister of Health unfettered powers to regulate therapeutic products. The Minister could decide, without evidence, who, where, what, when and how these products can be sold. Not only is it massive government overreach, it creates an unlevel playing field by removing products from law-abiding local convenience store owners and moving them to big-box pharmacies.

If the government truly wants to address youth access, they should focus on the illegal online market. There are over 90 e-commerce websites where youth can access these products with no age restrictions, and to add insult to injury, receive the product via Canada Post.

Convenience stores, who are vital to communities, stand ready to work with government to solve the real problem of youth access: a growing unchecked online market. Make no mistake: there are connections to organized crime and these websites are helping fuel guns, gangs and violence in our neighbourhoods.

Before we create an even worse problem, we are asking Members of Parliament to amend Bill C-69 and prevent unilateral, unprecedented and unfettered ministerial powers from regulating therapeutic products. Speak truth to power: focus on fixing youth access, the very problem the government claims they are trying to solve.