Alberta urged to proclaim indoor tanning ban law
EDMONTON The Canadian Cancer Society is urging the Alberta government to finally enact legislation to ban young people from using indoor tanning beds.
The Skin Cancer Prevention (Artificial Tanning) Act was passed by the legislature in March 2015, but has not been put into force.
Evie Eshpeter, a society spokeswoman, said the twoyear delay is putting young people at risk of developing skin cancer, including potentially deadly melanoma.
“We are asking them to enact the Skin Cancer Prevention Act without further delay,” Eshpeter said in an interview.
“The longer it remains unproclaimed the longer we deny protection to Alberta kids and we put them at unnecessary risk.”
Premier Rachel Notley said her government has been busy dealing with other matters, but will take action soon.
“We understand that there is as important public safety issue there, and so we will be moving forward on it fairly quickly,” she said Tuesday.
The society outlined its concerns to Health Minister Sarah Hoffman in a letter on March 6.
Hoffman told The Canadian Press the province is continuing to consult with businesses and health advocacy groups on the proposed regulations.
“It’s important that we get this right and that the final regulatory framework supports our goal to protect youth and help all Albertans make informed decisions about the health risks of ultraviolet artificial tanning,” Hoffman wrote in an email.
Alberta is the only province that still allows people under the age of 18 to use indoor tanning equipment.
Eshpeter said Alberta’s failure to enact the legislation is puzzling.