Representatives of Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) are trying to create a united front to ban smoking outdoors in public spaces.
On April 16 Jennifer McCorriston, chronic disease and injury prevention program manager for the health unit, presented the results of the Smoke Free Outdoor Spaces Survey to Puslinch Township council.
McCorriston and Laura Campbell were at council asking for support in the form of a bylaw restricting smoking outdoors.
McCorriston explained that in 2006, the Smoke Free Ontario Act was brought into effect, restricting smoking in indoor places such as workplaces and businesses.
“Since then, there’s been a movement in various municipalities across Ontario to initiate smoke-free legislation in outdoor spaces,” said McCorriston.
She clarified the current intent is to restrict smoking in areas where young people congregate.
McCorriston said the biggest reason for the move is to protect children – and all people – against the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
“It also promotes a positive role model,” she added.
She suggested the more young people see smoking, the more it “normalizes smoking behaviour.”
McCorriston said the move would also help protect the environment and reduce litter.
“I am sure that most people here are aware there is no safe level of second-hand smoke – even outdoors,” she said, noting second-hand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, 70 of which are known to cause cancer.
McCorriston said that each year, about 1,000 non-smoking Canadians die from second-hand smoke.
“It still costs the Canadian health care system about $4.4 billion … each year on health care for smoking-related illnesses,” she noted.
“Tobacco and nicotine addiction are still a major public health concern.”
McCorriston also said 93 municipalities in Ontario have smoke-free outdoor spaces bylaws.
However, before making recommendations, a survey was completed to gauge the opinion of local residents.
Those surveys represented 481 residents of Wellington County (population 86,672 in 2011).
McCorriston said of those surveyed, 96% supported some sort of outdoor smoke-free areas. She added that 75% also supported the provision of outdoor smoke-free areas in bars and patios.
Talks with business owners indicated they too would support smoke-free areas; but only on a level playing field.
McCorriston said a municipality could pass a bylaw tailored to local needs and issues.
She said the township could undertake additional consultation to see what other measures it might want to support.
“Education and appropriate signage are very important along with a communication campaign,” McCorriston said.
She added that “in terms of enforcement … what we found is that type of bylaw tends to be self-enforcing when there is proper education, signage and social pressure.”
Enforcement tends to be complaint driven, she added. She noted that late last year, the province introduced Bill 131 (which has reached second reading). If passed, the legislation would increase fines for those who sell tobacco to youths and ban the sale of flavoured tobacco products.
It would also prohibit smoking on playgrounds, sport fields and patios.
Asked why the municipality should pass a bylaw if the province is considering Bill 131, McCorriston responded the proposed legislation could take a long time to pass.
Even so, McCorriston said the municipality can make a local bylaw as restrictive as council deems fit.
She said WDGPH is asking the township to consider a comprehensive smoke-free outdoor spaces bylaw – in other words: a complete smoking ban rather than a partial ban.
She also suggested designated smoking areas is not really conducive to creating smoke-free spaces. She stressed the emphasis is more on public education than enforcement.
McCorriston said there has been considerable debate over smoker’s rights and the infringement of them.
“When we are promoting smoke-free outdoor spaces, this is not about the stigmitization of smokers.” Instead, McCorriston said, “It is about protecting children and youth from the harmful effects of second hand smoke.”
Because this is about promoting health, she said the role of public health is supporting smokers who want to quit. She said one of the next steps might be to find a community champion or group who wishes to support this in the local community.
Councillor Ken Roth stated his preference would be to see the issue handled at the county level.
Councillor Wayne Stokley said he was “definitely not a smoker and not always keen to be around people smoking.”
However, he did see a bylaw could create difficulties with the extremes of smokers and non-smokers.
“It is interesting that you note that to promote this you really need a champion,” said Stokley. He added the township would need to have an idea how this would be received by local residents.
Councillor Susan Fielding also did not believe children should be exposed to second-hand smoke.
“An adult can walk away and leave, but children don’t have that opportunity,” said Fielding. At the same time, Fielding said she’d like to see a blanket policy at the county level for consistency and uniformity.
Mayor Dennis Lever commented briefly on the survey taken. At that time, “one-in-four people were okay with the idea of smoking around Sports fields.”
Lever said it is important that the rules be consistent across the county and that the same rules apply. The mayor was supportive of the idea, “but I want to ensure that the public understands this clearly.”
He was also concerned with the idea of self-enforcement of the bylaw. “I don’t want to create any situations between different groups,” said Lever.
