SASKATCHEWAN, Canada – The Manitoba government is moving to ban the sale of flavored cigarettes, the CBC reports. The measure is designed to prevent young people from smoking.

"No parent wants their child to smoke and we should do whatever we can to keep them from picking up this dangerous habit in the first place," said Healthy Living Minister Sharon Blady. "Cigarettes that taste like strawberry and bubble gum in flashy packaging are attractive to children and encourage them to experiment with tobacco. It's time that we remove these products from the shelves to help our kids avoid tobacco all together.”

Blady said the ban would be one of the first in Canada, securing the province’s anti-tobacco reputation, and that the motion could pass before the end of the legislative session in June.

The bill does not impact menthol tobacco, flavored tobacco and flavored chewing tobacco products. Menthol cigarettes are exempt under federal legislation.

"We're aware of the menthol and other issues related to tobacco — this is a specific piece of legislation targeting this loophole,” Blady said. “The door is always open to investigating and monitoring other things."