Evidence of meeting #43 for Health in the 41st Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was products.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Medical Director, Smoke NV Inc.
I'll let Mr. Mohamedali answer that question. I think he'll probably have more insight for you.
President, Smoke NV Inc.
With the current battery system, obviously, it will depend on the mAh of the battery and the number of watt hours. For a disposable battery, something that's the same size as a regular cigarette, it would last for anywhere between 150 to 300 puffs, depending on the per-second puff ratio.
When it comes to your second question on rechargeable batteries, those rechargeable batteries exist today. They have to be charged either via a wall charger or via a USB charger. Those are typically the technology that is available today for electronic cigarettes.
Medical Director, Smoke NV Inc.
In your son's case, the USB charger might be the way to go.
Conservative
President, Smoke NV Inc.
For a USB charger, that's correct. It would still work through solar power. I think the main problem here is really just in identifying to make sure that the batteries in electronic cigarettes follow the same standards as any other batteries that consumers use in consumer products.
Conservative
David Wilks Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC
Okay.
Mr. Scholten, you indicated in a letter to the committee members that the Canadian Convenience Stores Association developed a best practices recommendation document in the summer of 2014. That document recommended applying the same age restrictions to sales of electronic cigarettes, which have no nicotine, as required by Health Canada, as those that are applied to the sale of tobacco, because the association wished to be sensitive to concerns given that there may be the perception of smoking a tobacco product.
Was this recommendation based on best practice from another jurisdiction? If not, how was this recommendation developed? Also, who was consulted in the development of that document?
President, Canadian Convenience Stores Association
The best practice document came from discussions we had with our U.S. sister organization, the National Association of Convenience Stores. They've also come out with a best practice recommendation in that regard. With regard to the insight we had from them—they were a little bit more advanced in this process than we were—we took that back to our board of directors. We're made up of six trade associations, four regional and one national, so each of those organizations took the recommendations back to its board and talked to the board about what it felt would be appropriate in the circumstances. From those discussions, we came out with this best practice recommendation.
All of our boards are made up of retailers—independents to chains—across the country. By having their buy-in in terms of what's in the document, we knew we'd have their buy-in in terms of what happens at the store level.
Conservative
Conservative
NDP
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you very much.
I'll use his 30 seconds to say that we're all trying to help Mr. Wilks' son in a harm-reduction way.
NDP
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
In fact, maybe we should call him as a witness, because you've brought him forward as a very good example a couple of times now.
I have just a couple of quick follow-ups.
Mr. Scholten, certainly you in the CCSA represents a huge amount of business across Canada. You've talked about sales of $55 billion and 10 million Canadians each and every day who use convenience stores. We're all familiar with that.
I'm just curious. When you talk about age restrictions you say, “First and foremost, we have recommended to convenience retailers that e-cigarette products should only be sold to adults”. I'm just interested in knowing what kind of mechanism you, as an association and with your members, have for enforcement. That's all you can do: you can make a recommendation. But I presume that, if we read between the lines, this means that many of your members may ignore your recommendation.
President, Canadian Convenience Stores Association
I wouldn't say “many”. Given my previous response to Mr. Wilks, the best practice recommendations came from what our boards of directors, who are retailers across the country, wanted to do in their stores. The vast majority of retailers who are represented in our membership will be complying with this.
NDP
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you.
If you do get complaints from the public that you have retailers who are selling to minors, what do you do?
President, Canadian Convenience Stores Association
Publicly we state that we don't support those retailer practices.
NDP
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
Okay. I realize that we need to get into a regulatory framework, but in the interim, how you operate is obviously of key interest.
I have just a quick follow-up for Mr. Giller. We've had some criticism out there in the Twitterverse that we're not hearing from vapers, from people who are vaping, and I'm interested in who you really are at 180 Smoke. You say that you're “a socially conscious crowdsourced company” very different from the convenience stores, and that you've “interacted with thousands of Vapers”. I think it would be helpful if you would just tell us.... Not everybody might be familiar with what crowdsourcing means. Do you establish yourself as a not-for-profit? Also, when you say that you've “interacted”, are you actually selling products online?
I think you just need to describe a little more who you are and how you operate.
Co-Founder, 180 Smoke
We do sell products via retail online and wholesale through all channels. I have interacted face to face with thousands of smokers and ex-smokers.
The main thing we hear from them is that they do want the nicotine. Everybody reports that their sense of smell comes back and that they do see noticeable health effects.
Due to the restrictions on advertising, most of our new customers come from referrals. People tell their friends that this helped them to quit, and they bring in their—
NDP
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you. I have one other quick question.
In the absence of any overall regulatory framework, how do you ensure that you're not doing business with minors? Even if there were a regulatory framework, how would we assure that there isn't business with minors? Because if it's on the Internet, it's much more difficult to enforce, or to even know really who your customers are. How do you deal with that?
Co-Founder, 180 Smoke
In-store, obviously, it's very easy to verify a person's ID. We have a big notice displayed prominently. Also, online, a big pop-up comes up asking if they are 19-plus. In addition, upon receiving the package, Canada Post or another courier will verify the receiver's ID and age. They do provide such a service.
NDP
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
If you're getting the package in the mail and you're not home and you go down to your local convenience store, the 7-Eleven—stores where there are now a lot of post offices—is there something on the package that says you have to show ID that you're over 19?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ben Lobb
Thank you very much.
That brings us to the conclusion of our meeting. We've had a good discussion today. We thank all our guests for taking time out of their day.
We'll conclude now, members, and we'll see you on Tuesday.
The meeting is adjourned.