moved for leave to introduce Bill C-438, An Act to amend the Tobacco Act (smokeless tobacco and little cigars).
Mr. Speaker, two and a half years ago members of this place passed Bill C-32. That bill was intended to ban flavoured cigarillos because the evidence was clear that young Canadians were consuming these products as a stepping stone to using non-flavoured tobacco products. But Bill C-32 contained a giant loophole that has allowed flavoured cigarillos in a modified form to continue to be sold, something the government has been aware of since the summer of 2010 but failed to take action to correct.
Sadly, the government has also not fulfilled its 2010 promise to ban all forms of flavoured smokeless tobacco, like flavoured chew, in recognition that those products are used disproportionately by Canada's youth.
This lack of action means that I am here again to re-table my bill, which would amend the Tobacco Act to correct both of these issues.
I am honoured that the member for Beaches—East York has stepped up to second the bill.
I urge the government to listen to the experts working on the front lines to protect the health of Canada's youth and adopt the bill as soon as possible.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)