Login / RegisterCity of New Westminster eyes smoking ban in outdoor public areas
The City of New Westminster is looking into whether to ban smoking in parks, playgrounds, fields, and other outdoor areas.
In an effort to limit exposure to second-hand smoke, the proposed new rules would see smoking prohibited in many public gathering areas as well as on restaurant and pub patios.
The regulations would also see a 7.5-metre smoke-free zone established around the doors, windows and air intakes of public buildings and workplaces.
Under the city’s existing smoking control bylaw, anyone convicted of violating the rules can face a fine of up to $2,000.
In a letter dated December 2011, the Fraser Health Authority recommended the city introduce the tougher restrictions. Other municipalities including Vancouver, Surrey, and White Rock have already introduced more strict rules on smoking in outdoor places.
Council is scheduled to consider the potential bylaw changes during a meeting on Monday (March 4).
Sadly, the same people have no trouble at all with vehicle exhaust fumes (which they inhale in huge quantities daily, often while sitting comfortably on a pub patio) or industrial emissions (which many of them work within).
Nope, it's just about the odour. Axe cologne and Walmart perfume is okay though. Duh.
Tough Love for Smokers addresses smoking in apartments, in public places and numerous other topics:
http://www.amazon.com/Tough-Love-Smokers-Nastiest-ebook/dp/B00AL7OA94/re...
All pollution contributes towards cancer and other chronic diseases.
Free energy is a real solution which is prevented from being rolled out because shareholders and owners of the petrol chemical industries believe money is more important than the health of humans and the planet. As a non smoker I have cancer of the bladder and the base of the tongue.The only thing stopping pollutant free energy and the closing of tobacco manufacture is money. Personally I care more about people than money. The benefits to the national economy, health and welfare by banning pollutants far outweigh any pro petroleum and tobacco lobby. Only those countries who ban tobacco and petroleum products will prosper. The question is which country values people more than money? Canada lead the way please. You have my support for justice. By banning tobacco and petroleum pollution you will increase your production, raise your standard of living and reduce your health and welfare programme. It is a simple matter of arithmetic. Either you want to be controlled by a few wealthy, greedy,selfish minority who think nothing of peddling their poison to the masses or you want to see the sensible, healthy option of caring for the majority. It really is a question of whether you like people or not. Obviously those who knowingly peddle, produce, or sell tobacco products and gasoline and diesel are only interested in money and making money at the expense of people's health. Every time you pass a smoker ask yourself this question: Does that smoker care about the air that you breathe? Of course they don't. They are selfish addicts after all. They really believe it is their right to pollute the air. When they ask for a drink of water ask them if you can put a drop of gasoline in it? They might say "No thanks" Explain to them polluting the air is the same as polluting the water. Both water and air are essential for the production of a healthy life. Are they stupid or just intent on killing people. Personally I seen every restaurant where the catering staff are outside the kitchen smoking. Why would I want to eat there? They no doubt prepare the food with nicotine stained hands. And then people wonder why non smokers get cancer!!! Wake up people or are you dumb?
My question is this. When everyone finally quits and the government is lacking in the billions of tobacco tax revenues, who is going to make up the lost tax revenue? This is going to affect non smokers too, since what will there be to tax the way cigarettes were taxed? Alcohol? Potato chips? Fast food?
The government keeps smoking legal only because it's profitable to do so. Think about it. Smokers have higher risk of fatal illness. They work and smoke and pay into the system, but can potentially kick off before collecting on benefits.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for preventing young people from smoking. I wish I had never started. Banning smoking for the smell, I get. But like someone else mentioned, why not ban cheap perfumes, stinky foods and other things that may offend. The potential risks from 2nd hand smoke can all be found in motor vehicle exhaust, yet that is acceptable because it is deemed necessary. Then there is the particulate matter from vehicles. There are studies done, showing that non exhaust particulate matter from vehicles, does indeed hospitalize people, and can even kill them. Car tires lose on average, 1 - 1.5kg of rubber in the form of particulate matter over their lifetime (3 years or so). This is one reason why folks with asthma tend to have it exacerbated when they live near busy streets with heavy traffic.