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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-09-18, Page 24Earth...our living room... A_CEEP IT CLEAN! PITCH-IN CANADA WEEK, April 22-28 On August 9, 2002 Cheryl Kim Lapp, daughter of Keith and Helen Lapp of Auburn, was united in marriage to Gerald Elliott DeGraaf, son of Rick and Edith DeGraaf of Cambridge. The wedding was held at Bethel Pentecostal Assembly, Goderich with Pastor. Bruce Brodrecht officiating. The best woman was Christine Lapp, sister of the bride. Bridesmaids were Rachel DeVries and Erin Gillap, friends of the bride & 4r4 groom. The best man zvas Simon DeGraaf,.brother of the groom. Groomsmen were Curtis DeGraaf and Se) Bradley Lapp, brothers of the groom and bride. The couple honeymooned in Quebec City and currently reside in Drayton, Ontario. • -t TOTAL WATERING BAN The Municipality of Huron East is issuing a TOTAL WATERING BAN for all areas of the municipality (Urban and Rural) effective immediately as we have been issued a Level II Water Advisory from the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority. There is to be NO watering of lawns. Any Water Conservation Practices within Residences and Businesses will be encouraged and appreciated. Mayor Lin Steffler PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2002. Huron poised to adopt smoking bylaw Like it or not Huron County is poised to go smoke-tree. Following an information session last Friday, Huron County councillors approved a motion to pursue a smoking bylaw for Huron. rWe're well on our way to having a smoking bylaw." Huron County Warden Ben Van Diepenbeek announced. "1 ,think council is definitely behind it and we should have one by next year." Van Diepenbeek said details of the bylaw would have to be established followed by a number of public meetings. Representatives from Kincardine. London, Ottawa and Waterloo joined guest speaker Michael Perley, Director of the Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco at the Huron CoUnty Museum. Each spoke about their own experiences with smoking bylaws. When the announcement was made to pursue the smoking bylaw a number of councillors and others in attendance applauded the decision. . "This is a health issue, not a human rights issue," Huron County Medical Officer of Health Dr. Beth Henning stressed. "This will protect the health of Huron County residents." Henning, a former smoker herself, said 77 per cent of Huron County residents are non-smokers and the push Air a complete smoking ban is nothing new. Henning said the number of smoke-free restaurants in Huron has risen to 36 per cent from 28 per cent over the last year. In that same time three bingo halls have also joined the list OT- smoke-free facilities. "It's-about joining the ranks with ,many jurisdictions across the country," Henning said. Debbie McCullough, a representative from the Region of Ottawa Health Department, said it is important to remember that Huron County can't go 100 per cent smoke- free overnight. She spoke about Ottawa's public awareness campaign and the initial negative response a smoking bylaw received in the nation's capital. __,- "You must provide public awareness on the risks of second- hand smoke," McCullough said. "Provide communiques to politicians and prepare a community mobilization." McCullough said some restaurants and bars in Ottawa gave out candy cigarettes as a reminder of the new bylaw. "Four months after the bylaw went into effect 30 per cent of those surveyed said they went out more often while 17 per cent said they went out less," McCullough said. "The rest said a smoking bylaw had no effect." Mary Lou Albanese, a representative from the Middlesex- London Health Unit, said trying to differentiate between restaurants and bars is not worth the hassle — ".something London has found out in r •ent weeks. 'If we could go hack we'd .do it the Ottass a v. ay,- Albanese said of a complete smoking ban. "Instead we embarked on a discussion about what is a restaurant and what is a bar.' Under London's current smoking bylaw. passed at the start of 2002, an establishment is exempt from the ban .if 66 per cent of their sales comes from alcohol. Anything under that is considered a restaurant and must adhere to the -bylaw. "You cannot distinguish between bars and restaurants so just put them together." Albanese said. Despite the odd problem. Albanese said 90 per cent of restaurants in London arc now smoke-free and a recent poll indicated that 90- per cent of Londoners support the bylaw. Brian Hadden, a representative from the Municipality of Waterkio said their "groundbreaking" bylaw started to be enforced in 2000. Under Waterloo region's ban — which includes the cities of Cambridge. Kitchener and Waterloo — all establishments were to be smoke-free with no provisions for enclosed smoking rooms, "The argument was simple — tobacco is a health hazard," Hadden said. "The argument here was passionate, hostile and confrontational." Hadden said the top concern expressed by bar and restaurant owners was financial and the cost a smoking bylaw would have on their businesses. "Since Jan. 1, 2000 there is no one documented case (of closure) related to the smoking bylaw," Hadden said. "Business has remained the same or improved." Organizers of the region's biggest event — Oktoberfest — also expressed concern that a smoking bylaw would ground their event. Not the case, said Hadden. "Oktoberfest in 2000 outsold the one in 1999," he said. "2001 ticket sales were on a record pace until Sept. I I." Hadden said in the last two years support from the regional council has been superb and Waterloo Region can now boast 99 per cent compliance — only 1 i businesses out of 2,100 are not complying with the by aw.Air- "Expect small, but vocal, groups to oppose the bylaw and expect claims of economic loss," Hadden said. "Expect to hear of new technology that will remove second- hand smoke and expect to hear the argument of freedom of choice." Soo Wong, representing the York Region Health Services Department, made it clear that Huron's smoking bylaw should not allow designated smoking rooms. She stressed this point with bright red marker during her powerpoint presentation. "Don't allow them," she said, citing engineering costs to prove the effectiveness of ventilation and si/e. "Smoking rooms are an administrative nightmare." Kincardine Councillor Sandy Donald stressed public consultation when implementing a smoking bylaw. "You have got to tell people what's going on," Donald said. "Hold forums. produce a schedule and stick to it. You are doing the right thing. "It's not easy stuff so be honest and understand that it will be difficult." Donald warned county councillors about the uphill battle ahead. "There will he people who cannot be swayed," Donald said. "Some proprietors are not concerned about their workers. "As more counties do this, so the playing field is levelled for all." Michael Perley, director of the Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco, questioned why the province is forcing all municipalities to become smoke-free by 2005 but not making it a provincial issue. He said the Ontario Municipalities Association (OMA) will push for that in the fall. "Over the last two to three years the debate has completely shuffled," Perley said. "It's moved from whether or not to implement a smoking bylaw to the mechanics of having one. "The (Huron County) survey reinforces that point." An April, 2002 survey revealed that 77 per cent of Huron County residents favour a bylaw making all public places 100 per cent smoke free. Perley rejected claims from business owners that smoking bylaws were bad for business. "We want to know if there's evidence," Perley said. "We're looking for objective evidence that says sales were down (after implementation) but we can't find any objective evidence to support He also dismissed another argument that says tourists from other Ontario regions, other provinces and U.S. visitors will increasingly expect smoke-free as the norm. "That's just not accurate," Perley said. "We have not seen any evidence (of migration)." Perky agreed with Wong saying designated smoking rooms are a bad idea. "Smokers don't like them — they say 'I don't want to be in a - fish bowl'." Perley said. "I don't think you want 4o complicate your life with them." One of Perley's recommendations was to implement a smoking bylaw during a good weather month. That way smokers can adjust to- the new conditions while the sun is still shining. Throughout the information session panelists were asked about how to handle places like private clubs and Legions. While most bylaws offered exemptions for private clubs, others said a Legion Would have to follow the same guidelines as a bar or restaurant if they were open to the public. Other areas to be considered under a Huron County bylaw include smoking bans inside all company vehicles including taxis; limos and snowplows. Ottawa has included such regulations as part of their bylaw. "There has to be a level playing field," Van Diepenbeek said. "A lot of lessons have been learned that will help us." By Matt Shurrie Siynal-Star `Argument simple - tobacco a health hazard' says. Waterloo speaker