The Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act states that no person shall sell tobacco, vapour products or any tobacco or vapour-related products in any of the following places or premises:
- a pharmacy; or
- a retail store if:
- a pharmacy is located in the retail store; customers of a pharmacy can enter into the retail store directly or by the use of a corridor or area used exclusively to connect the pharmacy with the retail store; and
- other places.
Pharmacies and stores that contain a pharmacy, such as supermarkets, must not sell tobacco, vapour products, or tobacco and vapour-related products (e.g. cigarette papers, cigarette makers, e-liquids or "juice," etc.).
If a retail establishment that contains a pharmacy chooses to continue to sell tobacco, vapour products, and tobacco or vapour-related products in the existing building, a separate retail area must be constructed in the building so that customers of the pharmacy cannot access the area where the tobacco and vapour products are sold, except by the use of a separate exterior doorway.
The majority of provinces already ban the sale of tobacco in pharmacies, including Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety responds to issues related to smoking or holding lit tobacco in workplaces that are not accessible to the public. For more information on the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations, which include provisions respecting smoking in workplaces, please contact the OHS office.