Canadians get tough with smokers

Today, May 31, 2006, the new Smoke Free Ontario legislation came into effect in Canada.

This means that smoking inside any public place is now banned and smokers in Ontario and Quebec will be forced to take their smoking habit outside.

While Ontario plans to allow for a transition period and just issue warnings to early offenders, Quebec means business and those who allow illegal smoking to take place will be landed with an immediate $400 fine.

Workers at an establishment who attempt to hinder the work of inspectors will make the owners liable for an extra $300 fine.

Ontario's Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson says the Smoke-Free Ontario Act applies to virtually every indoor public space, including restaurants with covered patios.

Quebec Health Minister Philippe Couillard says 75 inspectors are aiming to inspect 6,000 bars and restaurants by the end of the summer.

Under Quebec law smoking will also be banned in bingo halls, shopping centres, pool halls, bowling alleys, convention centres, common areas in apartment buildings of six to 12 units, among others.

Critics of the new legislation say it will cost businesses millions of dollars and believe smokers are being discriminated against as cigarettes are a legal product.

Toronto and Ottawa, along with most of the Atlantic provinces, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, the Prairie provinces and British Columbia already have smoking bans and Nova Scotia's ban takes effect at the end of the year.

Designated smoking rooms and smoking on patios which were allowed are now outlawed under the new legislation.

A conclusive list of potential fines will be published later this week.

According to the Lung Association secondhand smoke has 2.7 times as much nicotine and 70 per cent more tar than the smoke inhaled by the smoker.

It also contains more than 4,000 harmful chemicals.

Experts believe the regulations will protect both smokers and non-smokers from second-hand smoke, help current smokers to quit or reduce the amount they smoke, and discourage young people from smoking.

The Lung Association has been actively involved with the Ministry of Health Promotion in the development of the Smoke Free Ontario legislation, joining other Ontario Tobacco Free Network partners, The Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society. The Lung Association has dedicated several public education programs, high profile campaigns and funding for research in an effort to curb exposure to secondhand smoke, prevent youth from becoming addicted to smoking and promote greater smoking cessation.