Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Convictions

York Region Public Health enforces the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 to prevent youth access to tobacco and electronic cigarettes. Enforcing these laws helps to reduce the risk of youth beginning to use tobacco or electronic cigarettes.

Disclaimer Regarding Automatic Prohibition (Smoke Free-Ontario Act, 2017)

Prospective buyers of tobacco retail dealer premises are strongly encouraged to contact the local public health unit to confirm premises conviction history. A premises with two or more tobacco sales convictions against any owner (past or present) at that address within a five year period is subject to a Notice of Prohibition Against the Sale, Storage and Delivery of Tobacco Products (known as an automatic prohibition or “AP”).

Section 22 of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA) states that upon becoming aware that there are two or more convictions against any owner for tobacco sales offences committed at the same place within a five year period, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) shall notify the owner(s) or occupant of the place that the sale, storage and delivery of tobacco products is prohibited at the place.

The MOHLTC accepts requests from public health units for automatic prohibitions where owner(s) of the business was/were convicted of tobacco sales offences on two occasions. The SFOA convictions report published on public health units’ websites lists all owner related tobacco sales convictions that are eligible for an automatic prohibition. Please note that automatic prohibitions do not apply to vapour products sales convictions.

Smoke-Free Ontario Act Convictions

York Region Public Health inspects businesses for compliance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA).  If a person and/or business fail to comply with the legislation, charges may be laid by an SFOA inspector.

Below is a list of premises where an offence of selling or supplying tobacco or vapour products occurred and the owner or operator was charged and convicted. Convictions will be posted for a period of five years from the date of conviction.  

Please note: Automatic Prohibition eligibility criteria does not apply to a Specialty Vape Store. 

The following list was last updated December 1, 2024, and includes convictions registered since December 1, 2019.

2024 Convictions

Name: INS Market – 122 – 1 Bass Pro Mills Drive, Vaughan 
Offence: Sell tobacco to a person who is less than 19 years old 
Conviction Date: 11/25/2024 
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Ultramar – 28332 Ontario 48, Pefferlaw 
Offence: Sell tobacco to a person who is less than 19 years old 
Conviction Date: 11/18/2024 
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Daisy Mart – 9200 Weston Road, Vaughan
Offence: Sell tobacco to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 10/24/2024
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: HXL Station – 398 Ferrier Street, Markham
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 10/16/2024
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Snax Shop – 9300 Keele Street, Vaughan 
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old 
Conviction Date: 9/17/2024 
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No 

Name: Pioneer Gas Station – 2200 Steeles Avenue West, Vaughan
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 6/29/2024
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Nobleton Vape - 12990 York Regional Road 27, Nobleton
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 6/29/2024
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Vape Zone - 5799 Highway 7, Markham
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 5/8/2024
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: On The Run (Pioneer) - 12717 Woodbine Avenue, Gormley
Offence: Sell tobacco product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 3/20/2024
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: GTA Vapes - 3 - 9200 Weston Road, Woodbridge
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 3/6/2024
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Ace Vapez - 2 - 8074 Islington Avenue, Woodbridge
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 2/26/2024
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Miami Vapes - 10060 Keele Street, Maple
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 1/25/2024
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Circle K / Esso - 735 16th Avenue, Richmond Hill
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 1/5/2024
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

2023 Convictions

Name: Vapes by Enushi - 8241 Woodbine Avenue, Markham
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 12/22/2023
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Sam's Convenience - 1410 Major Mackenzie Drive East, Richmond Hill
Offence: Sell tobacco product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 12/13/2023
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Jardin Variety - 4 - 7575 Keele Street, Vaughan
Offence: Sell tobacco product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 12/13/2023
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Vape 007 - 8763 Bayview Avenue, Richmond Hill
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 12/12/2023
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Shell - 2650 Rutherford Road, Concord
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 10/4/2023
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

2022 Convictions

Name: GTA Vapes - 11 - 1111 Davis Drive, Newmarket
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 10/5/2022
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Daisy Mart - 5906 King Road, Nobleton
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 10/3/2022
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Becker's - U10 - 460 Elgin Mills Road East, Richmond Hill
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 9/23/2022
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Town Centre News & Convenience - 17 - 1111 Davis Drive, Newmarket
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 9/21/2022
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Shell - 7828 Ninth Line, Markham
Offence: Sell tobacco product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 9/20/2022
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Kocky Dog (The) - 4A - 183 Simcoe Avenue, Keswick
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 9/15/2022
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Petro Canada - 1195 Davis Drive West, Newmarket
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 9/8/2022
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Ace Vapez - 8074 Islington Avenue, Vaughan
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 9/7/2022
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Pure Vape - 103 - 8312 McCowan Road, Markham
Offence: Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 8/30/2022
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

2020 Convictions

Name: Andrew's Convenience - B02 - 15440 Bayview Avenue, Aurora
Offence: 3(1) Sell tobacco to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 3/13/2020
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Luzon Convenience - 284 Copper Creek Drive, Markham
Offence: 3(1) Sell tobacco to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 3/5/2020
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Lorena's Convenience - 6 - 3560 Major Mackenzie Drive East, Vaughan
Offence: 3(1) Sell vapour products to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 1/23/2020
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Alianza Latina Convenience Store - 1 - 16600 Bayview Avenue, Newmarket
Offence: 3(1) Sell vapour products to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 1/23/2020
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: Aries Vape - 4412 Highway 7 East, Markham
Offence: 3(1) Sell vapour products to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 1/22/2020
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

2019 Convictions

Name: NYX E-Cigs - 107 - 7800 Woodbine Avenue, Markham
Offence: 3(1) Sell vapour product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 12/13/2019
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

Name: MK Convenience - 5 - 8110 Birchmount Road, Markham
Offence: 3(1) Sell tobacco product to a person who is less than 19 years old
Conviction Date: 12/4/2019
Automatic Prohibition Eligible: No

To report any discrepancies please contact Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653 or by TTY 1-866-252-9933 

Smoking Laws

Every year in Ontario, approximately 13,000 people die from tobacco related illnesses.

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA, 2017) makes it illegal to:

  • Smoke or vape on or within 9 metres of bar and restaurant patios
  • Smoke or vape on or within 20 metres of any school property or community recreational facility property
  • Smoke or vape on or within 20 metres of the perimeter of public playgrounds or publicly-owned sports field surfaces that host activities such as soccer, baseball, basketball, cricket, skating, swimming, skateboarding and beach volleyball
  • Smoke or vape in any enclosed workplace or enclosed public place
  • Smoke or vape in a motor vehicle with anyone under 16 present
  • Sell tobacco products or vapour products of any kind on college, university or private school campuses
  • Sell flavoured tobacco products, with some exceptions

The SFOA, 2017 is part of the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy to:

  • Help smokers quit
  • Protect non-smokers from second hand smoke and second hand vapour
  • Encourage young people not to start smoking or vaping

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 restricts where you smoke tobacco products, use electronic cigarettes to vape any substance and where you can smoke cannabis. The Act also makes it illegal to sell or supply tobacco or any vapour product to anyone under 19.

York Region Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Control Officers are responsible for local education and enforcement of the SFOA, 2017 at:

  • Enclosed workplaces and public places
  • Restaurant and bar patios
  • Schools and school property
  • Community recreational facilities and facility property
  • Tobacco vendors and electronic cigarette retailers such as variety stores and gas stations
  • Private licensed home daycares
  • Hospitals, long-term care facilities and nursing homes
  • Outdoor public playgrounds and publicly-owned sports surfaces

Report smoking and vaping in areas restricted by the SFOA, 2017 vendors selling tobacco or vapour products to youth under 19 and other tobacco or electronic cigarette-related violations by:

  • Emailing @email
  • Calling York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653

Officers respond to all complaints. All reports and/or violations are kept confidential and may be made anonymously.

Hookah and Shisha

Hookah and Shisha pipes allow users to smoke a mixture of tobacco and molasses, often mixed with other flavours. The smoke from the burned substance passes through water and is inhaled through a hose attached to the device.

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 bans the use of all lighted tobacco in prescribed places, including tobacco in Hookah/Shisha pipes.

Restricting Access to Tobacco and Vapour Products

Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Control Officers regularly inspect tobacco vendors and vapour product retailers, such as gas stations and variety stores, to enforce the SFOA, 2017 throughout all nine York Region cities and towns.

Tobacco vendors and vapour product retailers must:

  • Ensure tobacco products and vapour products are not visible
  • Not promote the sale of tobacco
  • Check ID for anyone who appears under 25
  • Post required vendor and retailer signs
  • Ensure a smoke-free and vape-free environment

York Region Public Health provides educational materials for tobacco vendors and vapour product retailers and can help with staff training. If you are a new vendor or retailer, contact York Region Public Health to access these free resources.

Visit the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for more information about how the SFOA, 2017 affects you.