Ont. passes tough smoking ban legislation
Canadian Press
TORONTO — Fears that restaurants, bars and casinos will lose smokers' business were dismissed in favour of health concerns Wednesday as Ontario passed what it boasts is the "most aggressive anti-tobacco legislation in North America.''
The provincial legislature voted 71 to 6 pass the Smoke-Free Ontario Act -- a blanket ban on smoking in all indoor public and workplaces, that will take effect across the province starting in June 2006.
The bill gives Ontario retailers until June 2008 to get rid of so-called power walls that display cigarettes and remove them from the sight of minors.
"I'm very proud of this legislation,'' Premier Dalton McGuinty told reporters.
"We're taking a strong stand against tobacco, and by so doing, standing up for the health of Ontarians.''
McGuinty said tobacco is the No. 1 cause of preventable illness in the province, killing 16,000 Ontarians a year and costing the provincial economy $2.7 billion annually in lost productivity.
"It costs the health-care system alone $1.6 billion,'' he said.
Health Minister George Smitherman defended the decision to include legion halls in the ban, despite pleas by seniors' groups to grant an exemption to Canada's war veterans.
"Eighty per cent of Ontario's adults don't smoke, and that applies to those that fought in wars,'' said Smitherman.
"Everyone deserves an equal right to be able to enjoy their indoor space without harmful effect.''
Critics, like Niagara-area Conservative Tim Hudak, one of six Tories who voted against the bill, warned the ban would hurt restaurants, bars and casinos.
"I have no doubt that it's going to impact on the border casinos, on charity gaming, and the hospitality sector,'' he said.
"I don't think this government has accounted for the loss in money at the casinos as a result of this bill.''
But the government and the New Democrats said everyone has a right to work in a non-toxic environment.
"It's an important health and safety issue,'' said NDP house leader Peter Kormos.
"However, New Democrats have also called on the government to note there will be some financial hardship both in the corner store industry and to tobacco farmers.''
Agriculture Minister Steve Peters said there is a $35-million transition fund to help tobacco farmers switch to other crops, and $15 million to help communities in southwestern Ontario, where most of Canada's tobacco is grown, to attract new investment.
"The challenge is there is no silver bullet to replace tobacco,'' said Peters.
"We do have tremendous opportunities from the industrial hemp standpoint, which has no hallucinogenic properties.''
Peters said Ontario had more than 2,000 tobacco growers 10 years ago, but that number is now down to about 600, with about 200 farmers getting out of the business in just the past year.
Now, am I the only non-smoking Canadian citizen who is outraged by this?
The Canadian Government has gone to extreme lengths to alienate smokers, make them feel and seem like animals, and yet, they do not have the bridges enough to ban smoking completely, as in, not sell them to the public.
This is a disgrace! The Canadian Government is so busy making many non-smoking patrons happy, that they fail to remember that they are still making billions each year in tobacco sales.
What about the war veteran at the local Legion, who likes to light up, since it's the only fun he gets? What about my mother, who is a dedicated nurse and has been for nearly twenty years, and wants to smoke cigarettes on her break instead of listening to bitching nurses in the staff room?
The current Canadian Government can bite my @ss.
I am deffinitly outraged by this too, I was when they banned smoking in bars here in the U.S. in Florida, people get drunk off thier ass but can't smoke. What stupid shit man..I'm sorry your country has to endure the burden of liberal stupidity as well..
And they call our countries a democray. Pheh.
__________________ I can't tell a wookie from a libertarian. ~Bill O Reilly.
Now, with that said, I think this is absolute bullshit. Smoking is a personal choice that some make, if they wish to, it's their decision. It should also be left up to the owners of the specific establishments if they wish to disallow moking in their restaurant/bar.
What utter nonsense. This anti smoking crap has got to go.
Gender: Male Location: With Jenna, Which is in S.A., TX
Ah I used to smoke but I quit. I think it went a little too far. I live in San Antonio, TX and we passed a bill that says that if restaurant want to have a smoking section then it has to be closed off to the rest of the building. There is still smoking in bars and clubs. I think thats the way it should be done. But that doesn't sound all that bad. Someplaces will prolly end up building an outside part to their establishments.
__________________ There has been only one Christian. They caught him and crucified him -- early.--Mark_Twain,Notebook_(1898)
Around here you can smoke in bars but not restaurants.. if the place makes like 10% or more of their profits from selling food, they can't allow smoking. It's forced a lot of places to stop selling food.
I can't stand non-smoking laws, and I don't even smoke. They should let the restaurant/bar/whatever decide their own smoking policy and if non-smokers don't like it they don't have to go there.
Gender: Male Location: Aberdeen, Scotland, NOT Britain
How is banning smoking Liberal?
the liberal thing to do is the exact opposite.
As it goes, I reckon smoking is disgusting. The quiker it is outlawed the better everyne will be.
Difference between smoking and drinking is that if I was sitting in a room smoking I would be subjecting the OTHERS in the room to the damage of my habit as well as myself. If I was drinking I only adversely affect MY health.
Smokers can kill themselves if they want, but no-one else should suffer because of their manky addiction.
__________________ In football, you use your foot to kick the ball, hence the name.
Americans add throwing, pads, alter the length of the game etc, i.e. change it completely yet still call it football.
Then they call the original soccer, and expect the rest of the world to adopt this bastard name. Pish.
From hence forth American football shall be known as "soccer." by me.
Guys it costs the province of Ontario 1.7 billion in health care costs on stupid smokers. They make less then 1.3 billion on Taxes. They raise taxes to high black market starts.
I think those are banned to.
Canada's is democracy for sure but its more controlled there. There is The Canadian broadcast Chanel funded by the government. The alcohol is sold from government controlled business. The post is controlled by business. Thats about it. I doubt any government will retract this and Canada has quite a rep for destroying the rights of the general populace so the minorities can live in peace. SO learn something, its costing the government more money then they ever make back. I think smoking is sorting leveling off no in Ontario. Not a smoker everywhere as it used to be. Also the Prime Minister has the same powers as king almost IMO. I don't pity smokers at all (smoking killed my uncle) but i think the Premier has some sort of personal connection to this. He is launching a crusade on smoking. Watch one day he say "ban the smoking infidels."
__________________ Drown your face in a bowl of water!!!
I think that a 'Smoking' section in a restaurant or bar should have to be closed off from the rest of the building, as the second hand smoke does damage to everybody around the smoker.
I was in a conference where they made the smokers go outside, and not just anywhere out side, but in a roped off area with no where to sit and the temp us around 8 degrees....That's cruel...
that was to far. IMo let them smoke in the streets, cars, and homes. Thats were you spend a large part of your day. Don't need to smoke at work. Damn it Canada post people take smoking breaks ever 30 min. Now tell me thats not a drain on the econmey. Smoking workers i noticed take breaks like every hour.
__________________ Drown your face in a bowl of water!!!
I agree with you, though tell that to a smoker working a 9 to 6 job and they'll probably say that when the craving starts it's extremely tough to wait it out till they can get to their car or home.
__________________
“As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods, they kill us for their sport.”
KMC Community Forums
Jun 8th, 2005 10:13 PM
...
