The coalition’s push centres on wildfire risk, cigarette and vaping-related litter, and reducing young people’s exposure to smoking and vaping.
BANFF – “National parks are not ashtrays, and they must be protected and respected by everyone.”
So says Les Hagen, the executive director of Action on Smoking & Health (ASH Canada) as part of a coalition of health and environmental organizations pushing Ottawa to ban smoking and vaping in Canada’s national parks.
In an August letter addressed to Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), the groups called on the federal government to make national parks, historic sites and conservation areas smoke-free by 2028.
“Minister Dabrusin’s office has received correspondence regarding regulating tobacco use in Parks Canada-administered places,” said Jennifer Burnell, a spokesperson for Parks Canada.
Burnell said the suggestions have been shared with Parks Canada officials for further consideration, but no decision has been made to change the agency’s current approach.
Hagen says the push centres on three concerns: wildfire risk, cigarette and vaping-related litter, and reducing young people’s exposure to smoking and vaping.
He said the federal government should act quickly, particularly as climate change contributes to worsening wildfire conditions.
“Any low-cost measure that governments can implement to reduce wildfires should be adopted quickly,” Hagen said. “And this is one.”
Hagen says discarded smoking materials account for 10 to 15 per cent of wildfires in Canada, citing research referenced in the coalition’s letter.
“This is a very real issue,” he said. “We’re not making this up.”
In its letter, the coalition said the proposed restrictions would contribute to “Canada’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect the environment and achieve the federal government’s goal of reducing tobacco use to less than five per cent by 2035.”
Hagen says prohibiting smoking in national parks could reduce young people’s exposure to what the groups call “smoking cues” – seeing others smoke in public – which he argues can contribute to the normalization of tobacco use.
“That’s only going to happen if the government takes some ambitious measures,” he said.
The coalition’s proposal also includes vaping, despite vaping not carrying the same ignition risk as cigarettes.
Hagen said vaping was included because of concerns about youth exposure and litter from discarded vaping devices.
“When youth see people vaping, that also encourages youth to vape,” he said.
He also pointed to lithium-ion batteries contained in vaping devices as a concern when the devices are improperly discarded.
The proposed restrictions would not amount to a complete ban across all areas of national parks, with the coalition proposing exemptions that include front country campsites, private residences and the medical use of cannabis.
Enforcing restrictions across national parks such as Banff, with extensive trails and backcountry areas, could present another challenge.
But Hagen said enforcement would not be the primary mechanism for compliance.
“This is about establishing social norms,” he said. “When people know what the norm is, they will generally comply.”
Hagen acknowledged there would likely be violations, particularly during the first few years, but said he would expect compliance to increase as visitors become accustomed to the restrictions.
The Town of Banff already restricts smoking and vaping in many public places under its smoke-free bylaw, which was amended in February 2023.
Hagen pointed to the Town’s restrictions as an example of similar measures already being implemented locally.
Parks Canada currently follows provincial, territorial and municipal laws and regulations governing tobacco use in national parks.
The federal agency said additional measures, including smoking bans, can be implemented during periods of elevated fire risk.
Hagen said the groups have requested a meeting with Dabrusin and are still waiting to hear back.
“But don’t fear, we will be meeting with the minister,” he said.