MAILBAG: Taxpayer money in Minnesota flows to 'ban smoking' groups
COON RAPIDS, Minn. - The vitriolic and sneering attack on Sue Jeffery, "the embittered bar owner," by Bob Moffitt, the spokesman for the American Lung Association of Minnesota, needs to be rebutted.
Archie Anderson
Anderson is president of FORCES Minnesota, www.forces.org. FORCES is an international smokers' rights organization.
Archie Anderson has his SAY
Midland's smoke ban still sparks fire Janis Leering: The MirrorSept 3, 2004
Sitting at her empty bar, Nicole Lamers doesn't have as much work as she once did.
It's been a year since Midland's smoke ban kicked in, and Lamers, co-owner of Cellarman's Alehouse, said everything she had predicted, has come true.
Not wanting to talk about the smoke ban controversy again, Coun. Bill Thompson was tight-lipped, even though he was one of the most vocal supporters of the bylaw when it was debated.
"It's fine, and I've had many people thank me for doing it," noted Thompson.
http://www.simcoe.com/sc/midland/story/2175649p-2521204c.html
Butt-out bylaw has bar owners worried ontario, canada
By Carl Clutchey - The Chronicle-Journal August 29, 2004
Kim Desjardins is worried sick her sales will start falling like poplar leaves when September rolls around.
The Manitouwadge bar owner says her town’s gold-standard smoking bylaw, which takes effect on Wednesday, will be a death-knell for the business she started in March.
“Most of my customers are smokers,” Desjardins said Friday.
She said many clients who come in for a beer and a game of pool have already told her they won’t be coming around after Sept. 1…………….
http://www.chroniclejournal.com/story.shtml?id=23387
Local restaurants avoiding fines - Ontario, canada
Carly Foster, Staff Writer Sep 3, 2004
BROCK - Brock Township restaurants have cleaned up their act.
http://www.durhamregion.com/dr/regions/brock/story/2182318p-2528464c.html
Smoking by-law takes effect Sept. 4
Smokers across Huron County will be heading outside to light up this Saturday, as the county’s first non-smoking bylaw comes into effect.
By Jennifer Hubbard Signal-Star Staff
Goderich, Ontario Signal-Star — Smokers across Huron County will be heading outside to light up this Saturday, as the county’s first non-smoking bylaw comes into effect.
Originally passed by county council last fall, Huron’s Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) bylaw requires all public places and workplaces to be 100 per cent smoke-free starting Sept. 4, 2004, with the exception of long-term care and psychiatric facilities.
There are currently 189 municipalities that are 100 per cent smoke-free in public places and workplaces, while 28 municipalities have public place bylaws without workplace regulations. Thirty municipalities are covered by partial bylaws
http://www.goderichsignalstar.com/story.php?id=115327
I’m one of "those people"
Karen Lazaruk
Senior Reporter
Airdrie Echo — On the Oct. 18 election, we get to choose council members, school trustees and whether or not to ban smoking in Airdrie. What a ballot.
One question will gauge support for a 100 per cent smoking ban in all public places and workplaces, while another will test the waters to see if residents want a less restrictive bylaw, which excludes bars and restaurants.
I’ll be checking the second box. That’s right, I admit it – I’m one of "those people": A non-smoker, or – as we’re made to feel all too often – a self-righteous over-reactor who wants to inflict her beliefs on others.
I’ve been made to feel this way since I quit smoking more than 18 months ago , and I resent it. However, I also remember being made to feel shame for my habit, back when I smoked a pack a day and loved every last drag.
So having been on both sides of this issue, I say let’s drop the adversarial, judgmental stereotyping and move on to our Oct. 18 plebiscite. I am not a self-righteous over-reactor and the smokers are not a pack of lepers to be shunned. And let’s not forget the business owners’ stake in all this, as well as their rights over their own property.
And there’s the dilemma in a nutshell: we all live here, we all have rights. Smoking is not illegal, but breathing it in at work gives me a headache and makes me stink. Those are the facts – what do we do now?
We vote.
NO Ifs and or Butts for Staff Saskatchewan
Wednesday, September 1, 2004
Students hoping to light up when they return to classes this fall will find it increasingly difficult to do so.
Both the Moose Jaw Public School Division and Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Separate School Division have policies in place this year that prevent kids from smoking on school premises.
According to David Steele, director of education for the public school division, all high schools within the division are attempting to kick the habit on school property.
“We’re going to get to a point where there is no smoking at schools,” said Steele, noting smoking is already prohibited at elementary schools.
Starting this fall, only students in Grade 12 are allowed to smoke at public high schools, including Central, Riverview and Peacock Collegiates. Grade 11 students are no longer allowed to smoke according to the division’s new policy.
Peacock vice-principal Derrick Huschi said the policy is part of a plan to gradually make the schools smoke-free. Two years ago, only students in Grade 9 were not allowed to smoke. Last year the policy was extended to include Grade 10 students, and has been expanded to Grade 11 for the new school year.
It is expected that Grade 12 students will not be allowed to smoke at all during the 2005-06 school year.
The facts on teen smoking are alarming. According to www.the truth.com, it is estimated that tobacco companies make $1.8 billion from under age sales alone each year. Approximately 2,000 teens start smoking every day, and more than 80 per cent of all adult smokers say they started smoking before the age of 18. Although 70 per cent of smokers want to quit, only five per cent succeed each year.
Grade 12 students at Peacock are currently allowed to smoke in a designated area known as Smoker’s Alley, located at the back of the school along Caribou Street East. Students are not allowed to smoke anywhere else in the vicinity of the school, which is considered to be a one-block radius.
Smoking may take place before and after school, at lunch and during the 10-minute break. The school becomes a closed campus for the other two five-minute breaks, Huschi said.
“Most students buy into it, (but) there are some students who will try to push it,” said Huschi.
If a student is caught smoking, there are several disciplinary steps taken. Huschi said for a first offence, only a warning is given. For a second offence, a student is assigned detention. A one-day suspension is given for a third offence, three days for a fourth offence and 10 days for a fifth offence.
Huschi noted that the increasingly strict smoking policy has nothing to do with new municipal legislation that prevents smoking in public places. He cited that the school board’s policy began two years ago, and that the new legislation still allows for smoking outside of a public building.
In the past, students at Peacock had to obtain a smoker’s card, which had to be signed by their parents, stating that they allowed their child to smoke. Huschi said even if a parent calls the school to give their permission for their child to smoke, the new policy will still not tolerate smoking by students in Grade 11 or lower.
In addition to going smoke-free, the public school division is also attempting to encourage teens to kick the habit. Huschi said Peacock has run a Kick the Nics program in the past, as well as educated students on the negative effects of smoking in health and wellness classes.
Vanier Collegiate, which belongs to the Holy Trinity Catholic Separate School Division, has a similar policy to Peacock’s.
“We’ve always been no-smoking on the premises,” said Vanier principal Shannon Pearce, adding that the school’s policy has just been extended to ensure that students do not smoke within one block of the school.
Pearce said the policy is designed to not only prevent students from smoking on school premises, but also to cut down on loitering near neighbourhood homes.
Initially, Grade 9 students were not allowed to smoke in the parking lot, which is where administrators found they congregated most often. The following year it was expanded to include Grade 10. Now the policy says no one is allowed to smoke on or near the school premises.
The Holy Trinity smoking policy specifically states that it applies to staff, employees, visitors and board members as well.
If a student at Vanier is caught smoking, the first step is for them to make a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society. The next step is a talk with Pearce.
“So far we’ve had the odd student (who has not responded to the new policy), but I’ve talked to them and they seem receptive,” said Pearce.
Vanier also runs the Kick the Nics program. Pearce said the school does its best to help students stop smoking.
“If students want to quit we link them in the right direction,” he said
http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/news.aspx?storyID=20663
Safety at boat race eyed -winnepeg
By KATIE CHALMERS, STAFF REPORTER Tue, August 24, 2004
Organizers of the Canadian Cancer Society's dragon boat race are figuring out what changes need to be made for next year after a participant died of a heart attack during the event. George Jarvis, a 58-year-old who participated with other volunteers from Reimer Express, died on Aug. 13.
A spokeswoman for the Cancer Society's Manitoba division said they will review what emergency response should be available at The Forks, including personnel and equipment, during the races.
"We will be looking at the whole event and determine what is necessary to have on site," said spokeswoman Lynne Billings.
There are no paramedics on standby or access to a defibrillator during the three-day event, which ran this year Aug. 13-15.
CPR PERFORMED
Jarvis was on his team's boat when he suffered a heart attack before the race started. His teammates flagged down the crew of a water safety boat who rushed him to shore.
CPR was performed and a first aid crew from St. John Ambulance called paramedics.
A funeral for Jarvis was held last Friday.
"We extend condolences to the family," Billings said. "It's a very unfortunate incident."
Death at the Winnipeg Cancer Event
Strong-arm tactics unwelcome Derek Lawrence Alberta
Guest comment
I believe some sanity has to come into play regarding the strong-arm tactics which are being used by the Airdrie Smoke Free Coalition.
These people were (camping) canvassing during a soccer tournament where people were asked (to sign a smoke-free petition) while in the presence of other parents. Normally, any canvassing should be done door-to-door, where any pressures from your peers or neighbours are unknown. But here, people were solicited for their signatures in the presence of friends. We demand a secret ballot in a democracy – why should we not demand the same for soliciting changes to any bylaws?
I truly believe that smoking in public places should be limited – but by the same token, people walking down Main Street or, for that matter, jogging in downtown Calgary breathe in what? Not cigarette smoke, but exhaust fumes.
We need to take a moderate stand on smoking and not bow to the lemmings or the Chicken Littles of the world.
http://airdrieecho.com/story.php?id=115065
Smoke-free group threatens legal action
‘Adversarial’ move angers council members Alberta
Karen Lazaruk
Senior Reporter
Airdrie Echo — The issue of Airdrie’s proposed smoking bylaw became even more heated Monday night, as members of the Airdrie Smoke-Free Coalition threatened legal action if the bylaw is not changed to include home-based businesses.
Coalition member Lisa Timmermans told Airdrie city council that to exclude home-based businesses from the bylaw – which will be put to a vote of the electorate this fall – is to ignore the wishes of 3,360 petitioners who signed their names to a draft bylaw calling for all public spaces and workplaces in the city to become smoke-free.
"All people who live and work in Airdrie deserve to be safe from second-hand smoke," Timmermans said, "and council’s amendment (to the coalition’s proposed bylaw) does not do this."
Timmermans said that coalition members feel compelled to be heard on this issue.
"On behalf of the 3,360 residents, we will proceed with legal action; however, if council amends the bylaw tonight, legal action will not be taken," she said, adding that the coalition would agree to extending the reprieve for seven days, if council agreed to hold a special meeting on the issue within that timeframe.
City council voted to have city staff members review the coalition’s legal opinion on the issue and report back at its next regular meeting, which is scheduled for Sept. 7.
Some council members were noticably angered by the presentation. Alderman Richard Siemens calmly, but firmly, made his opinion clear.
"I’m a bit taken aback by the approach the coalition has taken ... I think we achieve more by choosing not to put ourselves in an adversarial position," Siemens said. "The threat of legal action has raised the hairs on the back of my neck ... this kind of approach is unreasonable.
"It is not reasonable, kind or decent," he added.
Coalition member Kim Hill responded by saying: "We felt that we had no other recourse ... we’re just acting on (the petitioners’) interest."
Alderman Marlene Weaver said that she, too, was caught off guard by the demand.
"I’m almost too angry to even speak," Weaver said, adding that to wait on discussing the issue would provide a needed "cooling off period."
During council’s Aug. 3 meeting, first reading was given to a bylaw which bans smoking in all public places and workplaces, with the exclusion of private homes. The issue will be put to a vote of the electorate during the municipal election this October. As previously mentioned, the bylaw differs from that which the coalition drafted and secured support for via a petition, which includes banning smoking in home-based businesses in the area of the home where work is conducted.
http://airdrieecho.com/story.php?id=113411
City, coalition come to terms on smoking ban September 1, 2004 - alberta
Karen Lazaruk
Senior Reporter
Airdrie Echo — Home-based businesses will be left out of the City of Airdrie’s proposed bylaw to ban smoking – and the Airdrie Smoke-Free Coalition is said to be OK with that.
The day after a heated exchange took place at Airdrie city council’s Aug. 16 meeting – during which coalition members demanded the city amend the bylaw under consideration to include home-based businesses or face legal action – officials from both sides say they met and worked things out.
"We’re actually on the same page now," said coalition spokesperson Kim Hill, adding that coalition members met with city manager George Keen Aug. 17 and talked things through. "Both sides feel really good."
Keen confirmed that agreement had been reached.
"Basically, we’re in agreement on the wording of the bylaw," Keen said, adding that he believes the Aug. 16 incident was the result of suspicion, about the city’s motives with regard to the smoking ban, on behalf of coalition members. "They were expecting a fight and didn’t get one ... they were suspicious."
Hill said coalition members had repeatedly tried contacting city officials about the smoking ban and felt they weren’t getting a response, which led them to speak to council Aug. 16.
"It was frustrating for us," Hill said, adding that she feels confident now that the city does not have a hidden agenda and added that the coalition doesn’t either.
After receiving the petition June 22, the city moved forward on the issue in accordance with the municipal government act. However, conflict resulted from council’s amendments to the coalition’s draft bylaw, which exclude home-based businesses and reduce the smoke-free area in front of entranceways to buildings from six metres to three metres.
Deputy-mayor Linda Bruce said she doesn’t think the coalition meant any harm with its threat of legal action and stressed that the roles of city council and the coalition in the community are different.
"They (the coalition members) are not elected, we are ... it is truly about democracy," Bruce said. "I think, in the end, they will get what they want, but they have to let it happen, let democracy work."
Hill said the coalition wanted home-based businesses included in the smoking ban in order to create "a level playing field" for all Airdrie businesses which will be affected by the 100 per cent smoke-free bylaw if passed. However, she added, it was not understood until the Aug. 17 meeting with city officials that under such a law, the entire home – not just the office space – would be affected.
"We don’t want to invade people’s homes ... we’re not radical like that," she said.
As well, Hill said, the coalition acquiesced on the issue of home-based businesses since many of the 3,360 residents who signed its petition may not have realized that the coalition intended to include home-based businesses – something which was stated in the coalition’s draft bylaw, but not specifically on the petition.
"It wasn’t really stated in the petition itself ... we feel that isn’t really fair," she said.
http://airdrieecho.com/story.php?id=114150
