VANCOUVER, BC, July 11,
2024 /CNW/ - In the leadup to the provincial
election, local retailers in communities across British Columbia are calling on Premier Eby to
reverse course on rules that benefit unregulated black-market
sellers at the expense of corner store retailers trusted in
their community.
In February 2024, Premier Eby
implemented a request from the federal government to remove
nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) from convenience stores,
limiting their availability to consultations with pharmacists at
drug stores. NRTs are a legitimate smoking cessation product and
are strongly recommended by the World Health Organization as a tool
to quit tobacco use.
Heavily restricting these products from legal retail locations
hurts adult British Columbians looking to quit smoking and makes
these products easier for youth to obtain through black market
channels.
"At the same time that Vancouver is facing an urgent crime epidemic,
Premier Eby and his government are driving consumers to unregulated
black-market products, at the expense of local businesses," said
Sara MacIntyre, VP Western Canada,
Convenience Industry Council of Canada. "Black market sales often directly
benefit organized crime, making our streets less safe. It's time
for the BC government to listen to the voice of small businesses
who play by the rules, and stop driving consumers to illegal,
unregulated products."
BC convenience retailers are trusted members of their
communities, known for selling age-gated products responsibly
including tobacco and lottery tickets. This proposed policy
blatantly disrespects their owners and employees.
"Both the federal and provincial governments have no data to
support these changes that punish law abiding retailers and fuel
the illegal online market. We urge Premier Eby to stand up for
British Columbia's small
businesses and instead target the real culprits: organized
crime," added MacIntyre.
The BC government has also raised concerned about youth access
to vaping products, yet flavoured products have not been available
in convenience stores since July
2020. This is further evidence that young people are
accessing these products from illegal sources and not from trusted
corner store retailers.
The Convenience Industry Council of Canada (CICC) supports additional regulations
on NRTs, including marketing restrictions, but opposes
place-of-sale infringements. These measures can effectively prevent
youth access without unfairly penalizing responsible retailers and
limiting adult access to smoking cessation products.
We urge Premier Eby to support small businesses through fair,
evidence-based policy.
SOURCE Responsible Retailers, Trusted in Your Community