The provincial government introduced necessary amendments Tuesday in the Saskatchewan Legislature that will soon see the six per cent provincial sales tax (PST) applied on all vape products. Amendments to The Provincial Sales Tax Act, 2025 will remove the current PST exemption on vape products beginning June 1, according to the province. The planned tax was first announced in the 2025-26 provincial budget on March 19 and is expected to increase PST revenues by $3 million annually, the province said on Tuesday. However, the province says the benefits of the new tax will go far beyond generating tax revenue. “This will help discourage the use of these products, especially among youth, who are at risk of long-term, negative health impacts,” a news release from the province said. Lung Saskatchewan shared its immediate support for the plan with CEO Erin Kaun adding that increased taxation is one of the most effective strategies to reduce consumption, especially among youth. “Nicotine exposure is known to harm healthy brain development in youth and young adults, which can lead to problems with learning, memory and mood and can increase the risk of addiction to other substances, the province said in a news release. In March of 2022, the province increased the PST tax rate for cigarettes to 29 cents per “cigarette stick” and 35 cents per gram of smokeless tobacco and other tobacco. Heated tobacco was also increased to 21.8 cents per stick capsule or cartridge.
|
