New Westminster councillor calls for provincial regulations to address vape shop proliferation in British Columbia.
Key Points:
- Key Issue: Representatives of Canadian municipal governments are calling for an upgrade in regulatory levels, urging the provincial government to implement unified regulations to address the issue of excessive expansion of vape shops.
- Proposal: The core of the proposal is implementing zoning restrictions to control the location and density of vape shops.
- Current Problem: Currently, regulation is limited to business licenses, municipal authorities have limited power, and inconsistent policies across different regions have created regulatory loopholes, leading to an imbalance where some areas are regulated while others are not.
New Westminster City Councilor Calls for Provincial Regulation on Vape Shop Expansion
In a report by Global News on September 10th, 2025, a city councilor in New Westminster. British Columbia, Canada, called for increased provincial oversight of vape shops in the city.
Daniel Fontaine believes that there should be restrictions on the number and locations of vape stores. He points out that vape stores are popping up all over the city and the Greater Vancouver area.
Fang Dan emphasized that such restriction measures need to be driven by the provincial government.
- “Currently, we can only require businesses to apply for business licenses, and can hardly impose any other restrictions,” he said, “especially in regions like Greater Vancouver with 21 municipalities, where one city may have zoning restrictions while neighboring cities have no regulation at all.
It is reported that the proposal will be discussed at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities meeting, and if it gains support. It will be submitted for review by the provincial government.
