Vaping in Canada may cost more as of July 1. Here’s why

Vaping could cost more this summer due to a tax increase proposed by the federal government in this year’s budget.

On July 1, the price of a vape pod will increase between 12 and 24 cents depending on where Canadians live – expected to bring in $310 million to the government over the next five years.

Ottawa says the price hike will reduce high vaping rates among younger Canadians, but public health experts say the tax misses the mark and could have unintended consequences.

Rob Cunningham, a senior policy analyst with the Canadian Cancer Society, says while he believes this tax will help reduce the number of Canadians who vape, it is low-hanging fruit.

“A 12 per cent increase, that’s really close to inflation over the last few years. So it’s not really much of an increase at all,” Cunningham said. “We could go much higher.”

Cunningham says the government is playing catch-up.

“It’s really frustrating, having had such difficult years step by step working to reduce smoking, that we’re having to learn those lessons and repeat those lessons all over again,” he said.

While supportive of any measures to reduce Canadians smoking and vaping, Dr. Shawn Aaron, a respirologist in Ottawa, says he also thinks the government is dropping the ball.

“The federal government could go even stronger,” he said. “Now, probably, the cat is out of the bag. It’ll be hard to undo this easy access to vaping products, but government really has to do something to make this a less easy activity for young people.”

One in 15 Canadians aged 15 to 19 vaped every day in 2022, according to Statistics Canada. Young adults vaped more than teens – with one in 10 Canadians aged 20 to 24 vaping every day that same year.

Although some experts wish the tax was higher, others