Canada Smoking Law Changes: Latest Updates by Province
Key takeaways
This log lists changes to Canadian smoking, vaping and tobacco rules that we can date from an official source, newest first. The most recent are federal: higher ticket fines on 30 January 2026, the annual duty adjustment on 1 April 2026 and the third legislative review of the federal Act, tabled on 20 May 2026.
Most smoking rules in Canada do not change often, but several layers can move in the same year: Parliament and Health Canada on products, the Canada Revenue Agency on tax, provinces on age and flavours, and cities on parks. This page keeps the dated trail. It lists only changes we could date from an official document such as the Canada Gazette, the Justice Laws Website, a government news release or a by-law. Where we could not verify a date, the change is left out.
For all of 2026 in detail, including what remains a proposal, see law changes in 2026.
Log, newest first
2026
- 20 May. The Minister of Health tabled the report of the third legislative review of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act, which looked at compliance and enforcement. Affects: federal law.
- 1 April. Federal excise duty on stamped cigarettes became $0.97299 per 5 cigarettes (CRA notice EDN105). Also on 1 April, the additional Nova Scotia vaping duty began to apply, after SOR/2026-41 was registered on 26 February. Affects: tobacco tax rates.
- 2 March. Toronto By-law 1482-2025 took effect: smoking and vaping are banned within a 20-metre radius of listed amenities in city parks. Affects: Toronto bylaws.
- 30 January. Contraventions Regulations amendment SOR/2026-11 raised fines for seven offences and added 97 ticketable offences under the federal Act. Affects: fines.
2024
- 1 July. The federal vaping duty rose from $1 to $1.12 per 2 mL for the first 10 mL, and $1.12 per 10 mL beyond that. Affects: vape tax.
- 1 March. Alberta’s provincial tobacco tax of $0.30 per cigarette took effect. Affects: Alberta prices.
- 1 February. Saskatchewan raised the legal age to buy tobacco from 18 to 19 and limited sales of vapour products to people 19 or older. Affects: legal smoking age.
2023
- 1 August. Health warnings printed directly on individual cigarettes began to be required, phased in for king size cigarettes by the end of July 2024 and regular size by the end of April 2025. Affects: warning labels.
2022
- 9 February. Plain and standardized packaging was fully implemented, including at retail. Affects: plain packaging.
- 25 March. The Northwest Territories banned the sale of flavoured vapour products; unflavoured and tobacco-flavoured products may still be sold. Affects: flavour bans.
2021
- 8 July. Vaping products may not contain nicotine above 20 mg/mL under SOR/2021-123. Affects: vaping laws.
2019
- 9 November. Most plain-packaging requirements took effect for cigarettes and little cigars. Affects: plain packaging.
2018
- 23 May. Bill S-5 received Royal Assent, renaming the Tobacco Act the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act and creating a federal regime for vaping products. Affects: federal law.
How we use this log
Each entry links to the page that explains the rule. The date next to each entry is the date the change took effect or was made, not the date we noticed it. If we have it wrong or you know of a change we have missed, tell us through report an error.
In this section
Legal information only, not legal advice. Laws and bylaws change; confirm the current text in the official source before you rely on it. Read the full disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
How often is this log updated?
We review it every quarter and add an entry when an official document gives a date. Each entry names its source so you can check the original.
Does this log include proposed laws?
Only on the yearly page, and only when they are clearly labelled as proposals. The log above lists changes that have happened.
Where do I look for the law in force today?
Start with the guides to federal law and to laws by province. They show the rules as they stand, while this page shows when they changed.
Sources
- Regulations Amending the Contraventions Regulations (Tobacco and Vaping Products Act), SOR/2026-11 — Canada Gazette, Part II. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Regulations Amending the Excise Duties on Vaping Products Regulations (Nova Scotia), SOR/2026-41 — Canada Gazette, Part II. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- EDN105 Adjusted rates of excise duty on tobacco products effective April 1, 2026 — Canada Revenue Agency. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Government of Canada shares results from third Tobacco and Vaping Products Act legislative review — Health Canada. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- City of Toronto By-law 1482-2025 — City of Toronto. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Excise duty rates — Canada Revenue Agency. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Tobacco and vapour products, Saskatchewan — Government of Saskatchewan. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Banning the sale of flavoured vapour products, Northwest Territories — Government of the Northwest Territories. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Health warnings on individual cigarettes — Health Canada. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Products: plain and standardized appearance facts — Health Canada. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Nicotine Concentration in Vaping Products Regulations (SOR/2021-123) — Justice Laws Website, Government of Canada. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- An Act to amend the Tobacco Act and the Non-smokers' Health Act (S.C. 2018, c. 9) — Justice Laws Website, Government of Canada. Accessed October 27, 2026.