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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-05-14, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2003. Smoking bylaw goes to municipalities r By Keith Roulston Citizen publisher The debate over prohibiting smoking in public places moves to local municipal councils after Huron County council passed an anti­ smoking bylaw, Thursday. The law, which prohibits smoking everywhere from bars and restaurants to Legions to seniors homes to actors in plays at theatres, requires a triple-majority to come into effect, meaning a majority of county council plus a majority of municipalities representing a majority of the population. While municipal councils cannot amend the bylaw, “if the majority aren’t giving consent, we hope they’ll tell us why,” said Craig Metzger, manager of the health unit. Confusion reigned right until the end. Several councillors who had spoken out in favour of an exemption for seniors in homes in the long run voted for a 100 per cent ban instead of voting to defeat that bylaw so a new one, including an exemption, could be introduced. The vote was 15-3 in favour of the complete ban. North Huron Councillor Doug Layton, one of the three who voted against the bylaw, admitted later he thought he must have voted on the wrong side because so many of those who had spoken out on behalf of seniors then voted for a complete ban. Last- month, following months of public consultation, council turned down a bylaw in a 9-8 vote that would have immediately banned smoking in all public places. Instead Layton proposed a bylaw to allow exemptions to pubs, bars, Legions and private clubs if they paid a licence fee of $500 per year. The proposal was defeated in a 9-9 vote (tie votes are lost) at the April 15 committee of the whole. Instead the proposal to impose a comp’ete ban but give businesses and clubs a year to adapt was approved by a 14-4 vote. But when that motion came to Thursday’s meeting, Bluewater Councillor Paul Klopp asked if a “100 per cent ban” meant people living in apartments attached to homes for the aged. Metzger explained that the provincial Tobacco Control Act prohibits smoking in long-term care facilities except in a designated smoking room with proper ventilation but the county’s bylaw would consider these rooms a workplace for staff and they would have to be removed. That prompted Layton to call for compassion for lifelong smokers who are residents of seniors homes. “We’U all be going there sooner or later,” he said. “That’s their residence. Is there no simple way we can’t leave the homes under the Tobacco Control Act?” Metzger noted that an early version of the bylaw did exempt long- term care facilities. Bluewater Councillor Diane Denomme said she had received numerous calls regarding the plight of smokers in nursing homes. “I was going to put forward a motion that we make an exemption for long-term care facilities,” she said. Bernie MacLellan of Huron East proposed an amendment that would leave homes for the aged under the Tobacco Control Act but it was ruled that the amendment would be against the spirit of the original motion so that the 100 per cent ban would need to be defeated before a new motion could be proposed. Carol Mitchell, Central Huron councillor, suggested proposals for a change might come from the local municipal councils as they debate the issue. After the newest proposal was approved, North Huron Councillor Murray Scott asked Penny Nelligan, health unit director, if there were any programs that could be implemented to help seniors stop smoking before the ban comes into effect a year from now. Nelligan said work has already been done with officials at the psychiatric ward at Goderich’s Alexandra Marine and General Hospital to try to find solutions for patients there. “We would encourage nicotine replacement,” she said. As well individual counselling would be available through the Huron Addiction Services. Meanwhile the debate started on the cost of enforcing the bylaw as Klopp suggested it was unnecessary to hire bylaw enforcement officers as proposed in a health unit document. Rather than spending $60,000 for two part-time enforcement officers the onus should be on owners and managers to enforce the bylaw in their establishments, he said. But Rob Morley, South Huron councillor, disagreed, arguing enforcement was needed. “We’ve heard loud and clear that bar owners are dead set against what we’ve done,” he couldn’t be enforce regulations. said and they counted on to no-smoking Check out The Citizen's WEBSITE at www.northhuron.on.ca IBS® DangerouS Teach young children to tell a grown-up when they find matches and lighters. Z i*’ *■ LA J Happy sales Blyth Beavers, from left, Nathan Plunkett, Brendan Hallahan and Ryan Plunkett had a great time staffing the table in front of Memorial Hall on Saturday morning for the annual bake sale. (Vicky Bremner photo) Is the party finally over? If you are concerned about your own, or someone else’s use of alcohol or drugs, the Drug and Alcohol Registry of Treatment (DART) can guide you to the help you need. Call us 24 hours a dArt Drug and Alcohol Registry ol Trealmenl Drogue el alcool - Repertoire des trailemenls 1-800-565-8603 The Drug and Alcohol Registry of Treatment (DART) acknowledges the financial support of the Government of Ontario. Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. For our children to be happy and healthy, they need many things. Some are free, but many are not. The National Child Benefit (NCB) gives financial support to low-income families. This helps parents work towards a brighter future for their children. And it also helps to reduce child poverty in Canada. To find out more about all our services for children and their families and to receive your guide: H 1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232) TTY: 1 800 465-7735 Canada.gc.ca □ Service Canada Access Centres Canada