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Making Healthier Choices Act, 2015, S.O. 2015, c. 7 - Bill 45

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Explanatory Note was written as a reader’s aid to Bill 45 and does not form part of the law.  Bill 45 has been enacted as Chapter 7 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2015.

Schedule 1
Healthy Menu Choices Act, 2015

Owners and operators of regulated food service premises are required to display the number of calories in each standard food item sold at the premises, as well as any other information required by the regulations.

“Regulated food service premises” are food service premises that sell meals for immediate consumption, and that belong to a chain with 20 or more Ontario locations, or that are brought under this Act by the regulations.

Inspection powers and penalties are provided for.

The Lieutenant Governor in Council is given regulation-making powers, including powers to provide for exemptions.

Schedule 2
Smoke-free ontario Act

Assorted amendments are made to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. Among them:

1. The sale of promotional items together with tobacco products is prohibited.

2. The sale of flavoured tobacco products is prohibited, subject to a power to prescribe exemptions.

3. The list of places that an inspector is specifically empowered to enter is broadened.

4. Adjustments are made to the penalty and prohibition provisions.

5. The power to prescribe places for the purposes of the Act is amended to provide for exemptions.

schedule 3
Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015

Restrictions are placed on the sale and use of electronic cigarettes.

For example:

1. The sale and supply of electronic cigarettes to persons under 19 is prohibited.

2. Restrictions are placed on the display and promotion of electronic cigarettes.

3. The sale of electronic cigarettes in certain places is prohibited.

4. Provision is made for regulating packaging of electronic cigarettes and for regulating the sale of flavoured electronic cigarettes.

5. The use of electronic cigarettes is prohibited in enclosed workplaces, enclosed public places and certain other places.

Inspection powers are provided for, along with offences and regulation-making powers.

 

 

chapter 7

An Act to enhance public health by enacting the Healthy Menu Choices Act, 2015 and the Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015 and by amending the Smoke-Free Ontario Act

Assented to May 28, 2015

CONTENTS

1.

Contents of this Act

2.

Commencement

3.

Short title

Schedule 1

Healthy Menu Choices Act, 2015

Schedule 2

Smoke-Free Ontario Act

Schedule 3

Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015

______________

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Contents of this Act

1. This Act consists of this section, sections 2 and 3 and the Schedules to this Act.

Commencement

2. (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), this Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Same

(2) The Schedules to this Act come into force as provided in each Schedule.

Same

(3) If a Schedule to this Act provides that any provisions are to come into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, a proclamation may apply to one or more of those provisions, and proclamations may be issued at different times with respect to any of those provisions.

Short title

3. The short title of this Act is the Making Healthier Choices Act, 2015.

 

Schedule 1
Healthy Menu Choices Act, 2015

Interpretation

1. (1) In this Act,

“chain of food service premises” means 20 or more food service premises in Ontario that operate under the same or substantially the same name, regardless of ownership, and that offer the same or substantially the same standard food items; (“chaîne de lieux de restauration”)

“food service premise” means any food premise within the meaning of the Health Protection and Promotion Act where meals or meal portions are prepared for immediate consumption or sold or served in a form that will permit immediate consumption on the premises or elsewhere; (“lieu de restauration”)

“Minister” means the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care or, if another member of the Executive Council is responsible for the administration of this Act, that Minister; (“ministre”)

“record” means any collection of information, however recorded, whether in printed form, on film, by electronic means or otherwise, and includes any data that is recorded or stored on any medium in or by a computer system or similar device, as well as drawings, specifications or floor plans for an enclosed workplace; (“document”)

“regulated food service premise” means,

(a) a food service premise that is part of a chain of food service premises, and

(b) any other food service premise that may be provided for in the regulations; (“lieu de restauration réglementé”)

“regulations” means regulations made under this Act; (“règlements”)

“standard food item” means a food or drink item that is sold or offered for sale in servings that are standardized for portion and content, and that meets the additional requirements, if any, that may be specified in the regulations, but does not include any food or drink item that is exempted by the regulations. (“aliment normalisé”)

Franchisors, etc.

(2) For the purposes of this Act, a person who owns or operates a regulated food service premise means a person who has responsibility for and control over the activities carried on at a regulated food service premise, and may include a franchisor, a licensor, a person who owns or operates a regulated food service premise through a subsidiary and a manager of a regulated food service premise, but does not include an employee who works at a regulated food service premise but is not a manager.

Information to be displayed

2. (1) Every person who owns or operates a regulated food service premise shall ensure that there is displayed, in accordance with the requirements of this section, the following information:

1. The number of calories of every standard food item that is sold or offered for sale at the regulated food service premise.

2. Any other information required by the regulations with respect to every standard food item that is sold or offered for sale at the regulated food service premise.

Where displayed, in regulated food service premise

(2) The information required to be displayed under subsection (1) with respect to a standard food item shall be displayed,

(a) on each menu on which the standard food item is listed or depicted at the regulated food service premise; and

(b) where the standard food item is put on display at the regulated food service premise, on a label or tag identifying the standard food item.

Where displayed, otherwise

(3) In addition to the display required under subsection (2), where a regulated food service premise lists or depicts a standard food item on a menu that is distributed or available outside the regulated food service premise, the information required to be displayed for the purposes of subsection (1) shall be displayed on that menu.

Application of subs. (1)

(4) The requirement under subsection (1) applies with respect to each variety, flavour and size of standard food item that is sold or offered for sale at the regulated food service premise.

Combination meals

(5) If a combination of standard food items is sold or offered for sale as a combination meal, the requirements under this section apply with respect to the combination meal as if the combination meal was also an individual standard food item.

Signs

(6) Every person who owns or operates a regulated food service premise shall ensure that there are publicly posted at the regulated food service premise, in a manner that is in accordance with the regulations, one or more signs that contain any caloric or nutritional information that may be required by the regulations.

How displayed

(7) The information required to be displayed for the purposes of this section shall be displayed in accordance with the rules provided for in the regulations.

What displayed

(8) For the purposes of this section, the number of calories of each standard food item shall be determined as provided for in the regulations.

Inspectors

3. (1) The Minister may appoint inspectors for the purposes of this Act.

Inspection

(2) For the purpose of determining whether this Act is being complied with, an inspector may, without a warrant, enter and inspect,

(a) a regulated food service premise; or

(b) any business premises of a company that owns, operates, franchises or licenses one or more regulated food service premises.

Time of entry

(3) The power under this section to enter and inspect without a warrant may be exercised only during the regular business hours of the regulated food service premise or business premises.

Dwellings

(4) The power to enter and inspect a regulated food service premise or business premises without a warrant shall not be exercised to enter and inspect a place or a part of a place that is used as a dwelling.

Use of force

(5) An inspector is not entitled to use force to enter and inspect a regulated food service premise or business premises.

Identification

(6) An inspector conducting an inspection shall produce, on request, evidence of his or her appointment.

Powers of inspector

(7) An inspector conducting an inspection may,

(a) examine a standard food item, a record or any other thing that is relevant to the inspection;

(b) demand the production of a standard food item, a record or any other thing that is relevant to the inspection;

(c) remove a standard food item, a record or any other thing that is relevant to the inspection for review;

(d) remove a record or any other thing that is relevant to the inspection for copying;

(e) in order to produce a record in readable form, use data storage, information processing or retrieval devices or systems that are normally used in carrying on business in the place;

(f) take photographs; and

(g) question a person on matters relevant to the inspection.

Written demand

(8) A demand under this section that a standard food item, a record or any other thing be produced must be in writing and must include a statement of the nature of the standard food item, record or thing required.

Obligation to produce and assist

(9) If an inspector demands that a standard food item, a record or any other thing be produced under this section, the person who has custody of the standard food item, record or thing shall produce it and, in the case of a record, shall on request provide any assistance that is reasonably necessary to interpret the record or to produce it in a readable form.

Records and things removed from place

(10) A record or other thing that has been removed for review or copying,

(a) shall be made available to the person from whom it was removed on request and at a time and place that are convenient for the person and for the inspector; and

(b) shall be returned to the person within a reasonable time.

Copy admissible in evidence

(11) A copy of a record or other thing that purports to be certified by an inspector as being a true copy of the original is admissible in evidence to the same extent as the original and has the same evidentiary value.

Obstruction

(12) No person shall hinder, obstruct or interfere with or attempt to hinder, obstruct or interfere with an inspector conducting an inspection, refuse to answer questions on matters relevant to the inspection or provide the inspector with false information on matters relevant to the inspection.

Offences

4. (1) Every person who contravenes any provision of this Act or the regulations is guilty of an offence and is liable,

(a) in the case of an individual,

(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $500 for every day or part of a day on which the offence occurs or continues, and

(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $1,000 for every day or part of a day on which the offence occurs or continues; and

(b) in the case of a corporation,

(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $5,000 for every day or part of a day on which the offence occurs or continues, and

(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $10,000 for every day or part of a day on which the offence occurs or continues.

Duty of directors and officers

(2) A director or officer of a corporation that owns or operates a regulated food service premise shall take all reasonable care to ensure that this Act and the regulations are complied with.

Offence

(3) A person who has the duty imposed by subsection (2) and fails to carry it out is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to the penalty provided for in subsection (1).

Same

(4) A person may be prosecuted and convicted under subsection (3) even if the corporation has not been prosecuted or convicted.

Certain by-laws inoperative

5. A municipal by-law is inoperative to the extent it addresses caloric or nutritional information required to be displayed by food service premises.

Regulations

6. The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations,

(a) providing for anything that this Act describes as being provided for, required or specified in the regulations;

(b) exempting food and drink items from the definition of “standard food item” and making such exemptions subject to compliance with the requirements, if any, provided for in the regulations;

(c) further specifying or clarifying the meaning of “a person who owns or operates a regulated food service premise” for the purposes of this Act;

(d) governing the information and signs that are required for the purposes of section 2;

(e) exempting persons who own or operate regulated food service premises or classes of persons from any or all of the requirements of section 2, and making such exemptions subject to compliance with the requirements, if any, provided for in the regulations;

(f) defining, for the purposes of this Act and its regulations, any word or expression used in this Act that has not already been expressly defined in this Act;

(g) for carrying out the purposes, provisions and intent of this Act.

Commencement

7. The Act set out in this Schedule comes into force on January 1, 2017.

Short title

8. The short title of the Act set out in this Schedule is the Healthy Menu Choices Act, 2015.

Schedule 2
Smoke-free ontario Act

1. (1) Section 3.1 of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Promotional items

(3.1) No person shall sell or offer to sell at retail any tobacco product together with a promotional item that is included with the sale of the tobacco product for nil or nominal additional consideration, or for additional consideration that does not exceed the production cost of the promotional item.

(2) Subsection 3.1 (5) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Interpretation

(5) In this section,

“promotional item” means,

(a) an item that is reasonably associated with, or that evokes, a tobacco product of any kind, or a brand of tobacco product, due to the item’s intended use or purpose or through the use of a brand name, trade-mark, trade name, distinguishing guise, logo, graphic arrangement, design or slogan that appears on the item, or

(b) another tobacco product; (“article promotionnel”)

“tobacco product” includes the package in which tobacco is sold. (“produit du tabac”)

2. Paragraph 10 of subsection 4 (2) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

10. A prescribed place or a place that belongs to a prescribed class.

3. Subsection 6.1 (2) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Flavoured tobacco products

(2) No person shall sell or offer to sell a flavoured tobacco product at retail or for subsequent sale at retail or distribute or offer to distribute it for that purpose.

Exception

(3) Subsection (2) does not apply with respect to any prescribed flavoured tobacco product.

4. (1) Subsections 14 (2), (3), (4) and (5) of the Act are repealed and the following substituted:

Inspection

(2) Subject to subsection (4), for the purpose of determining whether this Act is being complied with, an inspector may, without a warrant, and at any reasonable time, enter and inspect,

(a) any place designated under subsection 4 (2);

(b) any place where it is prohibited to smoke tobacco or hold lighted tobacco under section 9;

(c) the establishments of tobacco manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers; and

(d) any place where the inspector has reasonable grounds to believe that an activity regulated or prohibited under this Act is taking place.

Restricted appointments

(3) The Minister may, in an appointment, restrict the inspector’s powers of entry and inspection to specified places or kinds of places.

Dwellings

(4) An inspector shall not enter into a place or part of a place that is a dwelling without the consent of the occupant.

(2) Subsection 14 (8) of the Act is amended by adding the following clause:

(d.1) remove a sample of a substance or any other thing that is relevant to the inspection or take a specimen that is relevant to the inspection;

5. The Table to section 15 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Table

Column 1

Provision Contravened

Column 2

Number of Earlier Convictions

Column 3

Maximum Fine — Individual (amount in dollars)

Column 4

Maximum Fine — Corporation(amount in dollars)

3 (1), 3 (2), 3.1, 3.2

0

8,000

20,000

3 (1), 3 (2), 3.1, 3.2

1

20,000

40,000

3 (1), 3 (2), 3.1, 3.2

2

40,000

100,000

3 (1), 3 (2), 3.1, 3.2

3 or more

200,000

300,000

3 (6), 4 (1), 6, 10, 14 (16), 16 (4), 17 (6), 18 (1), 18 (4), 18 (5)

0

2,000

5,000

3 (6), 4 (1), 6, 10, 14 (16), 16 (4), 17 (6), 18 (1), 18 (4), 18 (5)

1

5,000

10,000

3 (6), 4 (1), 6, 10, 14 (16), 16 (4), 17 (6), 18 (1), 18 (4), 18 (5)

2

10,000

25,000

3 (6), 4 (1), 6, 10, 14 (16), 16 (4), 17 (6), 18 (1), 18 (4), 18 (5)

3 or more

50,000

75,000

5, 6.1

0

4,000

200,000

5, 6.1

1

10,000

600,000

5, 6.1

2

20,000

600,000

5, 6.1

3 or more

100,000

600,000

9 (1), 9 (2)

0

1,000

 

9 (1), 9 (2)

1 or more

5,000

 

9 (3), 9 (6)

0

1,000

100,000

9 (3), 9 (6)

1 or more

5,000

300,000

9 (4)

any

4,000

10,000

13 (4)

any

4,000

10,000

6. (1) Subsection 16 (2) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Notice

(2) On becoming aware that all of the following conditions have been satisfied, the Minister shall send a notice of the prohibition imposed by subsection (4) to the person who owns or occupies the place and to all wholesalers and distributors of tobacco in Ontario:

1. An owner of the business that operates or operated in the place has been convicted of a tobacco sales offence committed in the place.

2. During the five years preceding the conviction referred to in paragraph 1, the same owner of the business that operates or operated in the place, or a different owner of a business that operates or operated in the place, was convicted of a tobacco sales offence committed in the place.

3. The period allowed for appealing the conviction referred to in paragraph 1 has expired without an appeal being filed, or any appeal has been finally disposed of.

(2) Subsection 16 (5) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Applicable period

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4), the applicable period is,

(a) the six months that follow the date specified in the notice referred to in subsection (2), if there are only two convictions of tobacco sales offences committed in the same place during the five year period referred to in subsection (2);

(b) the nine months that follow the date specified in the notice, if there are only three convictions of tobacco sales offences committed in the same place during the five-year period referred to in subsection (2); and

(c) the 12 months that follow the date specified in the notice, if there are four or more convictions of tobacco sales offences committed in the same place during the five-year period referred to in subsection (2).

7. (1) Subsection 17 (1) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Seizure

(1) An inspector acting under section 14 may seize,

(a) tobacco that is being sold or offered for sale or that is being distributed or being offered for distribution contrary to subsection 5 (1);

(b) cigarettes that are being sold or offered for sale or that are being distributed or being offered for distribution contrary to subsection 5 (2);

(c) cigarillos that are being sold or offered for sale or that are being distributed or being offered for distribution contrary to subsection 5 (3);

(d) flavoured cigarillos that are being sold or offered for sale or that are being distributed or being offered for distribution contrary to subsection 6.1 (1);

(e) flavoured tobacco products that are being sold or offered for sale or that are being distributed or being offered for distribution contrary to subsection 6.1 (2); and

(f) tobacco that is being stored in a place contrary to subsection 16 (4).

(2) Subsection 17 (5) of the Act is repealed.

(3) Subsection 17 (6) of the Act is amended by striking out “subsection (2)” at the end and substituting “this section”.

8. Subsection 18 (3) of the Act is amended by striking out “Subsections 14 (4), (5), (6) and (7) apply” at the beginning and substituting “Subsections 14 (2), (4), (6) and (7) apply”.

9. (1) Clause 19 (1) (a.2.1) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

(a.2.1) defining “flavouring agent” for the purposes of this Act or any provision of this Act;

(a.2.2) clarifying the meaning of “nil or nominal additional consideration” or “production cost” for the purposes of subsection 3.1 (3.1);

(2) Clause 19 (1) (d.2) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

(d.2) prescribing flavoured tobacco products for the purposes of subsection 6.1 (3);

(3) Section 19 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Prescribing places

(8) A regulation that prescribes a place or area for the purposes of any provision of this Act may provide for areas within the place or area where the prescription does not apply, or otherwise provide for exemptions from the prescription.

Commencement

10. This Schedule comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.

schedule 3
Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015

CONTENTS

1.

Definitions

2.

Selling or supplying to persons under 19

3.

Display, etc.

4.

Places of entertainment

5.

Sale in prohibited places

6.

Signs in retail stores

7.

Packaging

8.

Flavoured electronic cigarettes

9.

Vending machines: general prohibition

10.

Prohibition

11.

Protection for home health-care workers

12.

Protection for people under 16 years old in motor vehicles

13.

Inspectors

14.

Offences

15.

Regulations

16.

Crown bound

17.

Human Rights Code

18.

Bill 10 — Child Care Modernization Act, 2014

19.

Commencement

20.

Short title

______________

Definitions

1. (1) In this Act,

“commercial”, with respect to electronic cigarettes, means something done or prepared for the primary purpose of generating profits from the sale or use of electronic cigarettes, directly or indirectly; (“commercial”)

“electronic cigarette” means any of the following:

1. A vaporizer or inhalant-type device, whether called an electronic cigarette or any other name, that contains a power source and heating element designed to heat a substance and produce a vapour intended to be inhaled by the user of the device directly through the mouth, whether or not the vapour contains nicotine.

2. A component of a device described in paragraph 1.

3. Any other prescribed device or product; (“cigarette électronique”)

“employee” means a person who performs any work for or supplies any services to an employer, or a person who receives any instruction or training in the activity, business, work, trade, occupation or profession of an employer; (“employé”)

“employer” includes an owner, operator, proprietor, manager, superintendent, overseer, receiver or trustee of an activity, business, work, trade, occupation, profession, project or undertaking who has control or direction of, or is directly or indirectly responsible for, the employment of a person in it; (“employeur”)

“enclosed public place” means,

(a) the inside of any place, building or structure or vehicle or conveyance or a part of any of them,

(i) that is covered by a roof, and

(ii) to which the public is ordinarily invited or permitted access, either expressly or by implication, whether or not a fee is charged for entry, or

(b) a prescribed place; (“lieu public clos”)

“enclosed workplace” means,

(a) the inside of any place, building or structure or vehicle or conveyance or a part of any of them,

(i) that is covered by a roof,

(ii) that employees work in or frequent during the course of their employment, whether or not they are acting in the course of their employment at the time, and

(iii) that is not primarily a private dwelling, or

(b) a prescribed place; (“lieu de travail clos”)

“Minister” means the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, unless otherwise specified; (“ministre”)

“prescribed” means prescribed by the regulations; (“prescrit”)

“promote”, with respect to electronic cigarettes, means to use any commercial act or practice or to use any commercial communication, through any media or other means, that is intended to or is likely to,

(a) encourage the purchase or use of an electronic cigarette or a brand of an electronic cigarette, or

(b) create an awareness of or association with an electronic cigarette, a brand of electronic cigarette or a manufacturer or seller of an electronic cigarette; (“promouvoir”)

“regulations” means the regulations made under this Act; (“règlements”)

“use”, with respect to electronic cigarettes, includes any of the following:

1. Inhaling vapour from an electronic cigarette.

2. Exhaling vapour from an electronic cigarette.

3. Holding an activated electronic cigarette. (“utili­ser”)

Private dwelling

(2) For greater certainty, and without restricting the generality of the expression, the following are primarily private dwellings for the purposes of the definition of “enclosed workplace” in subsection (1):

1. Private self-contained living quarters in any multi-unit building or facility.

2. Any other prescribed place.

Selling or supplying to persons under 19

2. (1) No person shall sell or supply an electronic cigarette to a person who is less than 19 years old.

Apparent age

(2) No person shall sell or supply an electronic cigarette to a person who appears to be less than 25 years old unless he or she has required the person to provide identification and is satisfied that the person is at least 19 years old.

Defence

(3) It is a defence to a charge under subsection (1) or (2) that the defendant believed the person receiving the electronic cigarette to be at least 19 years old because the person produced a prescribed form of identification showing his or her age, and there was no apparent reason to doubt the authenticity of the document or that it was issued to the person producing it.

Improper documentation

(4) No person shall present as evidence of his or her age identification that was not lawfully issued to him or her.

Display, etc.

3. (1) No person shall, in any place where electronic cigarettes are sold or offered for sale, display or permit the display of electronic cigarettes in any manner that would permit a consumer to view or handle an electronic cigarette before purchasing it.

Promotion

(2) No person shall promote electronic cigarettes,

(a) in any place where electronic cigarettes or tobacco products are sold or offered for sale; or

(b) in any manner, if the promotion is visible from outside a place in which electronic cigarettes or tobacco products are sold or offered for sale.

Exceptions

(3) Despite subsection (2), if the regulations so provide, a person may post signs providing information about electronic cigarettes and their price, but only if the signs meet the prescribed conditions.

Same

(4) Despite subsection (2), if the regulations so provide, a person may make available a document providing information about electronic cigarettes and their price, but only if the document meets the prescribed conditions.

Places of entertainment

4. (1) No person shall employ or authorize anyone to promote electronic cigarettes or the sale of electronic cigarettes at any place of entertainment that the person owns, operates or occupies.

Definition

(2) In this section,

“place of entertainment” means a place to which the public is ordinarily invited or permitted access, either expressly or by implication, whether or not a fee is charged for entry, and which is primarily devoted to eating, drinking or any form of amusement.

Sale in prohibited places

5. (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall sell or offer to sell electronic cigarettes in the following places:

1. A hospital as defined in the Public Hospitals Act.

2. A private hospital as defined in the Private Hospitals Act.

3. A psychiatric facility as defined in the Mental Health Act.

4. A long-term care home within the meaning of the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007.

5. A pharmacy as defined in the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act.

6. An establishment where goods or services are sold or offered for sale to the public, if,

i. a pharmacy as defined in the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act is located within the establishment, or

ii. customers of such a pharmacy can pass into the establishment directly or by the use of a corridor or area used exclusively to connect the pharmacy with the establishment.

7. A prescribed place or a place that belongs to a prescribed class.

Exemptions

(2) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations providing for places or classes of places described in subsection (1) where a person may sell electronic cigarettes or classes of electronic cigarettes, subject to any prescribed conditions.

Establishment

(3) For the purposes of paragraph 6 of subsection (1), the reference to an establishment includes an area used by persons to enter or exit the establishment if goods or services are sold or offered for sale in the area by the owner or operator of the establishment.

Signs in retail stores

6. No person shall, in any place, sell or offer to sell electronic cigarettes at retail unless the prescribed signs are posted at the place in the prescribed manner.

Packaging

7. No person shall sell or offer to sell electronic cigarettes at retail or for subsequent sale at retail or distribute or offer to distribute electronic cigarettes for that purpose unless the electronic cigarettes are packaged in accor­dance with the regulations.

Flavoured electronic cigarettes

8. No person shall sell or offer to sell a flavoured electronic cigarette that has been prescribed as prohibited at retail or for subsequent sale at retail or distribute or offer to distribute it for that purpose.

Vending machines: general prohibition

9. (1) No person shall permit a vending machine for selling or dispensing electronic cigarettes to be in a place that the person owns or occupies.

Exceptions

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply with respect to a vending machine,

(a) that does not contain electronic cigarettes and,

(i) is in a place to which the public does not have access, or

(ii) is inoperable; or

(b) that contains electronic cigarettes but is only operable by a retailer or an employee of a retailer.

Prohibition

10. (1) No person shall use an electronic cigarette in any enclosed public place or enclosed workplace.

Other prohibitions

(2) No person shall use an electronic cigarette in the following places or areas:

1. A school as defined in the Education Act.

2. A building or the portion of a building occupied by a private school as defined in the Education Act and the grounds surrounding the building of a private school, in cases where a private school is the only occupant of the premises, and the grounds annexed to a private school, in cases where a private school is not the only occupant of the premises.

3. Any common area in a condominium, apartment building or university or college residence, including, without being limited to, elevators, hallways, parking garages, party or entertainment rooms, laundry facilities, lobbies and exercise areas.

4. A day nursery within the meaning of the Day Nurseries Act.

5. A place where private-home day care is provided within the meaning of the Day Nurseries Act, whether or not children are present.

6. The reserved seating area of a sports arena or entertainment venue.

7. A prescribed place or area.

Employer obligations

(3) Every employer shall, with respect to an enclosed workplace, place or area mentioned in subsection (2) over which the employer exercises control,

(a) ensure compliance with this section;

(b) give notice to each employee in an enclosed workplace, place or area that use of electronic cigarettes is prohibited in the enclosed workplace, place or area in a manner that complies with the regulations, if any;

(c) post and maintain the prescribed signs, in the prescribed manner;

(d) ensure that a person who refuses to comply with subsection (1) or (2) does not remain in the enclosed workplace, place or area; and

(e) ensure compliance with any other prescribed obligations.

Prohibition

(4) No employer or person acting on behalf of an employer shall take any of the following actions against an employee because the employee has acted in accordance with or has sought the enforcement of this Act:

1. Dismissing or threatening to dismiss the employee.

2. Disciplining or suspending the employee, or threatening to do so.

3. Imposing a penalty upon the employee.

4. Intimidating or coercing the employee.

Complaint

(5) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations specifying the procedure that applies where an employee complains that subsection (4) has not been complied with, including the provisions of another Act or any regulations that apply, with necessary modifications.

Proprietor obligations

(6) Every proprietor of an enclosed public place, place or area mentioned in subsection (2) shall,

(a) ensure compliance with this section with respect to the enclosed public place, place or area;

(b) give notice to each person in the enclosed public place, place or area that use of electronic cigarettes is prohibited in the enclosed public place, place or area in accordance with the regulations, if any;

(c) post and maintain the prescribed signs, in the prescribed manner;

(d) ensure that a person who refuses to comply with subsection (1) or (2) does not remain in the enclosed public place, place or area; and

(e) ensure compliance with any other prescribed obligations.

Scientific research and testing facilities

(7) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person who uses an electronic cigarette in a scientific research and testing facility for the purpose of conducting research or testing concerning electronic cigarettes, and subsections (3) and (6) do not apply to a proprietor or employer with respect to the research and testing carried on in such a facility.

Definition

(8) In this section,

“proprietor” means the owner, operator or person in charge.

Protection for home health-care workers

11. (1) Every home health-care worker has the right to request a person not to use an electronic cigarette in his or her presence while he or she is providing health-care services.

Right to leave

(2) Where a person refuses to comply with the request not to use an electronic cigarette, the home health-care worker has the right to leave without providing any further services, unless to do so would present an immediate serious danger to the health of any person.

Restriction

(3) A home health-care worker who has exercised his or her right to leave shall comply with any procedures set out in the regulations.

Regulations

(4) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations setting out procedures that must be followed if a home health-care worker has exercised his or her right to leave.

Definition

(5) In this section,

“home health-care worker” means a person who provides health-care services in private homes, that is provided or arranged by,

(a) a community care access corporation within the meaning of the Community Care Access Corporations Act, 2001, or

(b) an entity that receives funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care or a local health integration network as defined in section 2 of the Local Health System Integration Act, 2006.

Protection for people under 16 years old in motor vehicles

12. (1) No person shall use an electronic cigarette or have an activated electronic cigarette in a motor vehicle while another person who is less than 16 years old is pres­ent in the vehicle.

Proof of age

(2) In a prosecution under this section, a court may find evidence that the person enforcing this section honestly and reasonably believed another person to be less than 16 years old to be sufficient proof of the other person’s age.

Enforcement

(3) Despite section 13, this section shall be enforced by police officers.

Definition

(4) In this section,

“motor vehicle” means, subject to the regulations, a motor vehicle as defined in subsection 1 (1) of the Highway Traffic Act.

Inspectors

13. (1) The Minister may appoint inspectors for the purposes of this Act.

Inspection

(2) Subject to subsection (4), for the purpose of determining whether this Act is being complied with, an inspector may, without a warrant, and at any reasonable time, enter and inspect,

(a) any place where it is prohibited to sell or offer to sell electronic cigarettes under section 5;

(b) any place where it is prohibited to use an electronic cigarette under section 10;

(c) the establishments of electronic cigarette manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers; and

(d) any place where the inspector has reasonable grounds to believe that an activity regulated or prohibited under this Act is taking place.

Restricted appointments

(3) The Minister may, in an appointment, restrict the inspector’s powers of entry and inspection to specified places or kinds of places.

Dwellings

(4) An inspector shall not enter into a place or part of a place that is a dwelling, without the consent of the occupant.

Use of force

(5) An inspector is not entitled to use force to enter and inspect a place.

Identification

(6) An inspector conducting an inspection shall produce, on request, evidence of his or her appointment.

Powers of inspector

(7) An inspector conducting an inspection may,

(a) examine a record or other thing that is relevant to the inspection;

(b) demand the production for inspection of a record or other thing that is relevant to the inspection;

(c) remove for review and copying a record or other thing that is relevant to the inspection;

(d) in order to produce a record in readable form, use data storage, information processing or retrieval devices or systems that are normally used in carrying on business in the place;

(e) remove a sample of a substance or any other thing that is relevant to the inspection or take a specimen that is relevant to the inspection;

(f) question a person on matters relevant to the inspection;

(g) if he or she finds that an employer is not complying with subsection 10 (3), direct the employer or a person whom the inspector believes to be in charge of the enclosed workplace, place or area to comply with the provision and may require the direction to be carried out forthwith or within such period of time as the inspector specifies; and

(h) if he or she finds that a proprietor is not complying with subsection 10 (6), direct the proprietor or a person whom the inspector believes to be in charge of the enclosed public place, place or area place to comply with the provision and may require the direction to be carried out forthwith or within such period of time as the inspector specifies.

Vending machines

(8) An inspector conducting an inspection may open a vending machine for the selling or dispensing of electronic cigarettes if,

(a) the vending machine is operable or is in a place to which the public has access;

(b) the owner or operator of a place referred to in subsection 9 (1) refuses or is unable to open the machine; and

(c) the inspector has reasonable grounds to believe that the exception in clause 9 (2) (b) does not apply.

Exemption from liability

(9) No person is liable for damage done to a vending machine in connection with an opening under subsection (8).

Seizure and forfeiture

(10) An inspector acting under subsection (8) may seize any electronic cigarettes and funds found in the machine and, where the inspector has done so, the electronic cigarettes are forfeited and shall be dealt with as the Minister directs, and the funds are forfeited to the Minister of Finance.

Written demand

(11) A demand that a record or other thing be produced for inspection must be in writing and must include a statement of the nature of the record or thing required.

Obligation to produce and assist

(12) If an inspector demands that a record or other thing be produced for inspection, the person who has custody of the record or thing shall produce it and, in the case of a record, shall on request provide any assistance that is reasonably necessary to interpret the record or to produce it in a readable form.

Records and things removed from place

(13) A record or other thing that has been removed for review and copying,

(a) shall be made available to the person from whom it was removed, for review and copying, on request and at a time and place that are convenient for the person and for the inspector; and

(b) shall be returned to the person within a reasonable time.

Copy admissible in evidence

(14) A copy of a record that purports to be certified by an inspector as being a true copy of the original is admissible in evidence to the same extent as the original, and has the same evidentiary value.

Seizure

(15) An inspector in a place under the authority of this section may seize,

(a) electronic cigarettes that are being sold or offered for sale contrary to section 5;

(b) electronic cigarettes that are being sold or offered for sale or that are being distributed or offered for distribution contrary to section 7; and

(c) electronic cigarettes that are being sold or offered for sale or that are being distributed or offered for distribution contrary to section 8.

Obstruction

(16) No person shall,

(a) hinder, obstruct or interfere with an inspector,

(i) who is conducting an inspection, or

(ii) who is making a seizure under subsection (10) or (15);

(b) refuse to answer questions on matters relevant to the inspection;

(c) provide the inspector with information, on matters relevant to the inspection, that the person knows to be false or misleading; or

(d) fail to comply with a direction under clause (7) (g) or (h).

Definition

(17) In this section,

“record” means any collection of information however recorded, whether in printed form, on film, by electronic means or otherwise and includes any data that is re­corded or stored on any medium in or by a computer system or similar device as well as drawings, specifications or floor plans for an enclosed workplace.

Offences

14. (1) Subject to subsection (2), a person who contravenes section 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 10 or subsection 13 (16) is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine determined in accordance with subsection (3).

Continuing offence, signs

(2) A person who is convicted of contravening section 6 or clause 10 (3) (c) or (6) (c) is liable to the fine determined in accordance with subsection (3) for each day or part of a day on which the offence occurs or continues.

Determining maximum fine

(3) The fine, or daily fine, as the case may be, shall not exceed an amount determined as follows:

1. Establish the number of times the defendant has been convicted of the same offence during the five years preceding the current conviction.

2. If the defendant is an individual, the amount is set out in Column 3 of the Table to this section, opposite the number of previous convictions in Column 2 and the section or subsection number of the provision contravened in Column 1.

3. If the defendant is a corporation, the amount is set out in Column 4 of the Table to this section, opposite the number of previous convictions in Column 2 and the section or subsection number of the provision contravened in Column 1.

Sequence of convictions

(4) In establishing the number of times the defendant has been convicted of the same offence for the purposes of subsection (3), the only question to be considered is the sequence of convictions, and no consideration shall be given to the sequence of commission of offences or to whether an offence occurred before or after a conviction.

Continuing offence, vending machine

(5) A person who contravenes subsection 9 (1) is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable, for each day or part of a day on which the offence occurs or continues, to a fine of not more than $2,000.

Offence, smoking in motor vehicle

(6) A person who contravenes section 12 is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $250.

Duty of directors and officers

(7) A director or officer of a corporation that engages in the manufacture, sale or distribution of electronic cigarettes has a duty to take all reasonable care to prevent the corporation from contravening this Act.

Offence

(8) A person who has the duty imposed by subsection (7) and fails to carry it out is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $100,000.

Same

(9) A person may be prosecuted and convicted under subsection (8) even if the corporation has not been prosecuted or convicted.

Owner’s liability

(10) The owner of a business shall be deemed to be liable for any contravention of section 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 or 8 that occurs at the place of business, unless the owner exercised due diligence to prevent such a contravention.

Table

Column 1

Provision Contravened

Column 2

Number of Earlier Convictions

Column 3

Maximum Fine — Individual (amount in dollars)

Column 4

Maximum Fine — Corporation (amount in dollars)

2 (1), 2 (2), 3, 4

0

4,000

10,000

2 (1), 2 (2), 3, 4

1

10,000

20,000

2 (1), 2 (2), 3, 4

2

20,000

50,000

2 (1), 2 (2), 3, 4

3 or more

100,000

150,000

2 (4), 5, 6, 10 (3) (c), 10 (6) (c), 13 (16)

0

2,000

5,000

2 (4), 5, 6, 10 (3) (c), 10 (6) (c), 13 (16)

1

5,000

10,000

2 (4), 5, 6, 10 (3) (c), 10 (6) (c), 13 (16)

2

10,000

25,000

2 (4), 5, 6, 10 (3) (c), 10 (6) (c), 13 (16)

3 or more

50,000

75,000

7, 8

0

2,000

100,000

7, 8

1

5,000

300,000

7, 8

2

10,000

300,000

7, 8

3 or more

50,000

300,000

10 (1), 10 (2)

0

1,000

 

10 (1), 10 (2)

1 or more

5,000

 

10 (3) other than (c), 10 (6) other than (c)

0

1,000

100,000

10 (3) other than (c), 10 (6) other than (c)

1 or more

5,000

300,000

10 (4)

any

4,000

10,000

Regulations

15. (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations,

(a) defining or clarifying the meaning of any word or expression used in this Act but not otherwise defined in this Act;

(b) prescribing and governing anything that is referred to in this Act as being prescribed, as being provided for in the regulations or as being done in compliance with or in accordance with the regulations;

(c) respecting the packaging of electronic cigarettes, including warnings that must be included on packages;

(d) providing for additional vehicles that are motor vehicles for the purposes of section 12;

(e) providing for vehicles that are not motor vehicles for the purposes of section 12;

(f) governing how funds in the form of credit card or debit transactions are to be dealt with for the purposes of subsection 13 (10);

(g) providing for exemptions from this Act or any provision of this Act, and making such exemptions subject to any conditions provided for in the regulations;

(h) generally, for carrying out the provisions, purpose and intent of this Act.

General or specific

(2) A regulation under this Act may be general or specific in its application, and may establish different categories or classes, and may provide for different obligations or responsibilities for different categories or classes.

Crown bound

16. This Act binds the Crown.

Human Rights Code

17. Section 20 of the Human Rights Code is amended by adding the following subsection:

Electronic cigarettes and young persons

(5) The right under section 1 to equal treatment with respect to goods without discrimination because of age is not infringed by the provisions of the Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015 and the regulations under it relating to selling or supplying electronic cigarettes to persons who are, or who appear to be, under the age of 19 years or 25 years, as the case may be.

Bill 10 — Child Care Modernization Act, 2014

18. (1) This section only applies if Bill 10 (Child Care Modernization Act, 2014), introduced on July 10, 2014, receives Royal Assent.

(2) References in this section to provisions of Bill 10 are references to those provisions as they were numbered in the first reading version of the Bill.

(3) On the later of the day this section comes into force and the day that Schedule 2 of Bill 10 comes into force, paragraphs 4 and 5 of subsection 10 (2) of the Act set out in this Schedule are repealed and the following substituted:

4. A child care centre within the meaning of the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014.

5. A place where home child care is provided within the meaning of the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014, whether or not children are present.

Commencement

19. The Act set out in this Schedule comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.

Short title

20. The short title of the Act set out in this Schedule is the Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015.