Dear Premier Ford, 

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I am writing to express concerns about the federal government’s Ministerial Order that restricts the sale of authorized nicotine pouches to pharmacies only. As a licensed convenience retailer, this change has had a significant impact on my business.

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Simply put, the restriction makes no sense. My store is permitted to sell age-restricted products like cigarettes, vapes and alcohol, but not nicotine pouches approved by the government as a smoking cessation product. The further irony is that I am able to sell other nicotine replacement products like gums and lozenges which are available in front of the counter with no age-verification required. 

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This restriction has diverted customer traffic away from my store, not only because nicotine pouch sales were removed, but also because customers are now purchasing their everyday essentials, such as milk, bread, and beverages, elsewhere. Before the Ministerial Order, convenience stores like mine sold nicotine pouches responsibly.

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Convenience stores follow strict controls, including mandatory age verification and routine inspections. By contrast, limiting access to authorized products has pushed many consumers toward illegal and unregulated sellers, especially online, where age verification is either non-existent or ineffective.

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For many communities across the province, convenience stores are essential local businesses. Reduced foot traffic threatens our viability and affects the neighbourhoods we serve.

 

Last month our industry was very pleased to hear Alberta Premier Danielle Smith publicly encourage the federal government to reverse this ban. She and her Minister for Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally, wrote to Prime Minister Mark Carney, encouraging him to revisit the regulations so that licenses retail channels like my business, can once again promote an effective smoking cessation product conveniently to adult consumers in Canada. 

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On behalf of small business and consumers in our province, I urge you to ask the federal government to reverse course and allow authorized nicotine pouches to be sold once again in convenience stores. 

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Thank you.