Press
Release
February 22, 2012
Kudos to City of Ottawa for making patios, parks and
municipal grounds smoke-free.
Ottawa’s City Council decision to ban public smoking
on patios and parks was welcomed today by Physicians for
a Smoke-Free Canada.
“We are very pleased that Ottawa has joined other
jurisdictions in protecting workers and the public from
cigarette smoke in these important areas,” said PSC’s
executive director Cynthia Callard. “In the 10
years since Ottawa last revised its smoke-free bylaws
several studies have demonstrated that cigarette smoke
on patios is a health hazard, and a threat to the health
of workers and patrons.” Non-smokers in parks,
beaches and festivals can also be exposed to dangerous
levels of cigarette smoke when smoking is permitted,
explained Callard.
Currently about one-fifth of Canadians live in
jurisdictions where smoking is not permitted on
restaurant or bar patios, including the provinces of
Alberta, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Yukon Territory and
several municipalities in British Columbia. Other
Ontario cities which have banned smoking on patios
include Kingston and Thunder Bay.
“Today’s decision is a result of the leadership of
Ottawa’s elected Councillors and Mayor, its new Board of
Health and its Medical Officer of Health,” said Callard.
“The careful work in preparing for this bylaw change and
the extensive public consultation will help ensure a
smooth transition.”
PSC encourages all jurisdictions to review their
legislation and to bring public health protection in
line with current evidence about the harms of exposure
to smoke – outdoors and indoors.
For information: Cynthia Callard (613) 233
4878
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