Ottawa plans to regulate e-cigarettes in order to make it harder for young people to get their hands on vaping products.

New legislation introduced in the Senate would regulate vaping as a separate class of products, allowing adults access as a likely less harmful alternative to tobacco.

(Doug Husby / CBC)

Saying vaping products have been growing in popularity, the Trudeau government feels it’s time to regulate their manufacture, sale, labelling and promotion.

Besides restricting e-cigarette sales to young Canadians, the legislation would also support the government’s plans to require plain packaging for tobacco products.

Health Minister Jane Philpott plans to host a national forum early in 2017 to discuss controls on tobacco, which claims the lives of some 37,000 Canadians each year.