October 8,2025
RED FM News Desk
British Columbia is moving to make it easier to take legal action against vaping companies for what it calls “deceptive” marketing practices.
“The vaping industry has specifically targeted young people and hasn’t always been transparent about what’s in its products or how addictive they can be,” Attorney General Niki Sharma said at a Wednesday press conference announcing the proposed legislation.
Sharma explained that the bill is modeled after previous laws that enabled the province to sue opioid and tobacco manufacturers for the public health costs of their products. “This legislation gives us the tools to launch a similar class action or join existing lawsuits,” she said.
If passed, it would be the first law in Canada designed to hold vape manufacturers accountable for health impacts. It would not automatically penalize any company but would give the government the authority to pursue specific lawsuits.
It remains uncertain whether the vaping industry has the financial capacity to pay the kind of large settlements seen in opioid and tobacco cases. Sharma acknowledged that this would be a consideration in any potential settlement discussions.
B.C. is already set to receive $3.6 billion over 18 years from a $32.5 billion national settlement with tobacco companies, while litigation against opioid manufacturers continues. The province also plans to introduce legislation targeting producers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — known as “forever chemicals” — due to their health risks, particularly for firefighters. That bill is expected to be introduced in the spring legislative session.
Alongside these legal initiatives, the B.C. government is continuing its public campaigns aimed at reducing vaping among youth.
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