OTTAWA, ON – Greg Rickford, M.P. for Kenora was pleased to support three Kenora riding residents representing the “Flavour Gone” campaign as they appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health, in support of Bill C-32, government legislation that will protect children and youth from tobacco marketing.
 
“The “Flavour Gone” campaign has had a real impact on our region,” stated Rickford at Health Committee this past Tuesday. “As a chemotherapy-certified nurse, I’ve had the unfortunate responsibility of treating young men suffering from the absolute worst case scenario of tobacco use and so I understand the importance of this campaign and the government’s legislation”.
 
“We are thrilled that the Canadian government has tabled Bill C-32 and has taken a stand to protect children from these products,” said Dryden resident McKibbon who appeared before the committee. “This bill will eliminate the lure of flavoured cigarillos, cigarettes, and blunts and is a big step towards discouraging youth from picking up tobacco products.”
 
“Flavour Gone” is a youth-led campaign with a mandate to eliminate flavoured tobacco in Canada. Three local youth advocates, Sam McKibbon (Dryden), Catherine Kiewning (Red Lake), and Caitlin Bousfield (Dryden) were stirred into action after they saw many of their peers using flavoured tobacco products on a regular basis. McKibbon stated that there is a whole youth culture surrounding chewing tobacco, especially on sports teams in rural areas, and part of this campaign is focused on communicating this reality to Canadians.  More specifically, the campaign would like to amend C-32 to include flavoured chewing tobacco, an amendment that is supported by Mr. Rickford.
 
The Conservative government tabled legislation in the House of Commons on May 26th.  The proposed amendments to the Tobacco Act would prohibit the addition of fruit flavours and other addictives, such as vitamins or sugar, which give a candy flavour to little cigars, cigarettes, and blunt wraps. The changes would also require that little cigars and blunt wraps be packaged like cigarettes in minimum quantities of 20.