Butt-brained idea-AB

Smoking ban only first move for those who wish to control us

By Paul Jackson Calgary Sun Tue, January 18, 2005

We true conservatives find it somewhat exhilarating that Premier Ralph Klein has finally awoken from his slumbers and slapped down provincial Health Minister Iris Evans.

After sleepwalking through the past election -- and handing a stack of seats over to the Liberals -- and making a yawning speech last week in which he talked about a "third way" to reform the mess in health care -- without saying what that "third way" was -- I had again pondered whether our premier had become feeble-minded.

Then, suddenly, he seems to have a grasp of reality again.

Evans caused an uproar when she declared she intended to push for legislation this spring to ban smoking in every public place province-wide.

Since this has basically been achieved -- smoking in bars and restaurants in Calgary will be banned absolutely as of Jan. 1, 2008 -- and other cities have already either done this or have it on the books for dates in the near future, Evans' action seems pointless.

Now this is not a pro-smoking column.

Personally, the only time I smoke is at a regimental dinner when I have a fine cigar in one hand, a superb glass of port in the other, and await the coming of a sniff of snuff.

I tried smoking as a teenager -- didn't we all -- but thankfully, didn't get hooked.

When Sean Connery played a smooth James Bond, unlike his silly successors, I tried it again.

Once more, thankfully, I didn't get hooked.

But each person to their own poison.

To me, VLTs in bars are a menace.

I've never put $5 in them.

Yet, if as a conservative, you believe in an individual's right to choose, you have to allow them.

So, no, this is not a pro-smoking column, but it is a column against the tiresome meddling busybodies who would regiment every aspect of our lives: Thoughts, words and deeds.

I name two who one might regrettably say are now starting to only masquerade as true conservatives, the aforementioned Evans and Calgary Ald. Diane Colley-Urquhart.

Both appear more to be CINOS (Conservatives in Name Only) who have been waylaid and duped by the Lib-Lefters.

Wake up, Iris and Diane -- and get back on the straight and narrow.

Why would Colley-Urquhart be a cheerleader for Evans when she had already won her battle on city council?

It simply doesn't make sense.

Klein, for the first time in a long time, did make sense.

He told Evans to back off.

Yet never forget this: The Lib-Left set is never satisfied.

This or that victory is never enough.

Lib-Lefters have to push on, and on, and on.

That's why the anti-smoking brigade, having already won this victory, is moving to get junk food banned, fast-food restaurants restricted, pushing a vegetarian agenda, and, in the animal rights movement, planning to forbid people to own pets. To them, owning pets is the enslavement of animals.

Just let them try and take my Shih-Tzu puppy "Muffin" away.

Now, I do not say either Evans or Colley-Urquhart belong to this bunch of fanatics, but they should be aware Lib-Lefters know how to manipulate and deal with the gullible.

By the way, Ralph, I suggest Evans may soon make you wish you had never defrocked ex-health minister -- and prominent CINO -- Gary Mar.

If Evans can go off on a tangent like this even before she has her new portfolio files in order, what will she do when she feels she has a real angle on the job?

A point Lib-Left zealots forget is a bar or a restaurant is not, in actuality, a public place.

The owner can allow you to enter, or forbid you to enter.

If you disobey his rules, he can kick you out on your rear end.

I know this because in my more raucous days, I was ejected from a bar or two myself.

When I see the Lib-Left set trying to engineer society, I always think of George Orwell's frightening novel, 1984, and wonder if, rather than seeing Winston Smith as the hero, they think Big Brother and the interrogator O'Brien are quite OK.

All who fear the regimentation of society should read 1984 -- or see one of the two movie versions of Orwell's harrowing novel of a society under absolute state control: The 1955 version with Michael Redgrave and Jan Sterling, or the "commemorative" 1984 version with John Hurt and Richard Burton.

Freedom must not slowly and insidiously be chipped away.

Either by the dictatorial types or the naive types.

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Columnists/Calgary/Paul_Jackson/2005/01/18/901594.html

Broadcast News January 14, 2005

MONTREAL - Premier Ralph Klein says Alberta will not have a province-wide ban on smoking.

Klein says municipalities should be free to set their own rules on smoking.

The premier's comments came during a news conference in Montreal today following an address to the city's Board of Trade.

He calls smokers -- quote -- "stupid," but says he doesn't believe it's his job to impose a smoking ban in his province.

He also says he'd prefer to see family restaurants where children dine with their parents to be smoke-free.

Earlier this week, Health Minister Iris Evans said she was going to revisit the debate that started a few years ago on a smoking ban.

The initiative was later shot down by the government caucus but Evans said she believed the caucus and premier were now more willing to take another look at regulating smoking.

http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=5ac15fbe-1d76-43da-8244-f89cda4997eb

Tops anti-smoking group's report card

By FRANK LANDRY, LEGISLATURE REPORTER Tue, January 18, 2005

An anti-smoking group is urging the province to crack down on the sale of cigarettes in pharmacies. Dr. Mark Taylor, chairman of the Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance (MANTRA), said yesterday it sends the wrong message to allow pharmacies to sell tobacco products.

"Kids hear how dangerous tobacco is, then they go to the pharmacy to get medications to make them better and at the front of the pharmacy, in full view, are mountains of cigarettes," said Taylor, whose group yesterday released its third annual Manitoba tobacco control report card. "It's clearly a hypocritical message."

Taylor said all provinces east of Manitoba prohibit pharmacies from selling cigarettes, and we should do the same.

Healthy Living Minister Theresa Oswald would not commit to a ban but said she's in favour of anything that would discourage teens from trying tobacco in the first place.

"The whole issue of placement of cigarettes ... the whole issue of availability of cigarettes, all of those issues are things that I'm prepared to examine," Oswald said.

In its report card, MANTRA gave the provincial government passing marks for its Manitoba-wide smoking ban and legislation that will one day outlaw tobacco displays in retail stores where children are permitted.

FREE QUIT-SMOKING AIDS

MANTRA failed the province for continuing to allow the sale of smokes in pharmacies.

The anti-puffing group also urged the Doer government to give quit-smoking aids such as the nicotine patch free to low-income Manitobans and prohibit smoking in aboriginal casinos and gambling halls. Unlike smoke bans in other provinces, First Nations are exempt under Manitoba's Non-Smokers Health Protection Act.

Oswald said there are no plans to alter the way the smoking ban is written.

Despite his group's criticisms, Murray Gibson, MANTRA's executive director, said a national tobacco report card being released today will rank Manitoba second best only to Nunavut when it comes to cracking down on smokers.

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/WinnipegSun/News/2005/01/18/901765-sun.html

But, report criticizes natives exclusion from smoking laws

Tuesday, January 18th, 2005

By Mia Rabson

A coalition of Manitoba's anti-smoking activists says the province could -- and should -- have included First Nations when it banned smoking indoors in public last October.

The Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance (MANTRA) kicked off national non-smoking week yesterday by releasing its annual report card on provincial tobacco control efforts.

MANTRA's report card said overall Manitoba is doing well in its efforts to reduce smoking.

In fact, a national report card to be released today will rank Manitoba first among the provinces for its efforts to curb smoking.

Overall MANTRA was pleased with the province's performance, particularly with the smoking ban, which prohibits smoking in all indoor public places, workplaces, and partially enclosed public patios.

But the group's chairman, Dr. Mark Taylor, said the failure to enforce the ban on First Nations is a black mark on the province's mostly good record.

When it introduced the smoking ban legislation, the provincial government indicated First Nations fell under federal jurisdiction and therefore could challenge the bill if it was enforced there.

But Taylor said all other provinces that have or are working on a provincewide ban included First Nations.

"It's very difficult for us to understand why Manitoba felt they did not have jurisdiction," Taylor said.

MANTRA executive director Murray Gibson said at the very least the province should refuse to grant a gaming license to First Nations casinos if the casino won't ban smoking.

"How can you license something that is an unhealthy workplace," Gibson said.

The exclusion of First Nations was a main criticism of the ban by the provincial Progressive Conservative party, the first party out of the blocks to call for a provincewide ban. Tory Leader Stuart Murray said yesterday he hopes the additional pressure may convince the NDP to expand the bill.

"I think everyone should be treated equally," Murray said.

But Healthy Living Minister Theresa Oswald stuck by the provincial line yesterday saying enforcing the bill on First Nations could spark a court challenge, and that wasn't something the province was willing to undergo.

"At this time we're not choosing to make any amendments to the legislation," she said.

MANTRA's report also calls for Manitoba to increase the amount of money it spends on smoking cessation programs. Gibson said Manitoba has one of the higher cigarette taxes but one of the lowest expenditures on anti-smoking programs in Canada.

Manitoba's 2004-05 budget for anti-smoking programs was equal to 58 cents per person. Gibson wants it to be at least $3 per person.

One provincial campaign, a television advertisement selected by 31,000 Grade 6 to Senior 4 students, will air in March. The graphic ad shows a teenage girl's skin rotting and tar oozing out of her mouth in an attempt to make smoking look as gross as possible.

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca

Winnipeg Free Press

By DIANA PEREIRA Globe and Mail Update

Western Canadian pharmacies still sell cigarettes, and an anti-smoking group in Manitoba wants that to change.

Manitoba should join eastern Canada and ban tobacco sales in pharmacies, said Murray Gibson, executive director of the Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance (Mantra).

According to the national report card on tobacco control, released Tuesday, most provinces still allow cigarette sales in pharmacies. Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan and the Yukon have no laws banning the practice.

In Prince Edward Island, which still allows the sale from pharmacies, a ban comes into effect on June 1.

The report was published by the National Clearinghouse on Tobacco and Health Program, managed by the Canadian Council for Tobacco Control.

The national report used five factors in its calculations: provincial/territorial tobacco-tax rates, percentage of smoke-free workplaces, percentage of smoke-free public places, bans on retail displays and bans on sales from pharmacies.

In the category of tax rates, the Northwest Territories ranked first, receiving a grade of A+ for its territorial tax rate of $42 per cartons of 200 cigarettes. The report states that several studies show that a 10-per-cent increase in price decreases smoking by about 4 per cent and will curb youth smoking as well. British Columbia received an A for its tax rate of $35.80.

In the category of keeping workplaces smoke free, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Yukon all failed. British Columbia, Newfoundland, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec achieved incomplete grades because they still have designated-smoking rooms in some workplaces.

When it comes to 100 per cent smoke-free public places, Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Quebec and Yukon all failed. Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario and PEI received incomplete grades because of various designated-smoking rooms.

Most provinces and territories failed when it came to retail display bans, with the exception of Manitoba, Nunavut and Saskatchewan. PEI received an incomplete grade because the Supreme Court of Canada is deciding whether to move ahead on banning the ads.

The Manitoba association released its third provincial report card on tobacco control in the province on Monday.

An additional problem area identified by the Manitoba report is government support for programs and services that promote quitting smoking.

“We are encouraging the government to support cessation programs,” Mr. Gibson told globeandmail.com.

The Manitoba report also noted that 17 per cent of children in the province aged 17 and under are subjected to second-hand smoke in their homes on a regular basis.

According to Mr. Gibson, a 2004 report released by Environics Canada prepared for Health Canada that said 96 per cent of smokers surveyed said children should be protected from second-hand smoke. At the same time, 64 per cent of smokers said they smoke at home.

Mantra is planning on co-ordinating a committee to come up with recommendations to increase people's understanding of second-hand smoke.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050118.wsmoke0118/BNStory/National/

Broadcast News January 18, 2005

The Manitoba government is being criticised for not enforcing its provincewide smoking ban on reserves.

Dr. Mark Taylor, of the Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance, says all other provinces that have or are working on provincewide bans included reserves.

When it introduced the legislation, the provincial government indicated First Nations fell under federal jurisdiction and therefore could challenge the bill if it was enforced on reserves.

Healthy Living Minister Theresa Oswald says enforcing the bill on reserves could cause a court challenge -- similar to one that is underway in New Brunswick -- and that's not something the province is willing to do.

The Manitoba government is being criticized for not enforcing its provincewide smoking ban on reserves.

Dr. Mark Taylor, of the Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance, says all other provinces that have or are working on provincewide bans included reserves.

When it introduced the legislation, the provincial government indicated First Nations fell under federal jurisdiction and therefore could challenge the bill if it was enforced on reserves.

Healthy Living Minister Theresa Oswald says enforcing the bill on reserves could cause a court challenge -- similar to one that is underway in New Brunswick -- and that's not something the province is willing to do.

http://www.canada.com/fortstjohn/story.html?id=8e631e0f-c608-4ce1-a50b-eabade4d15dc

Broadcast News January 17, 2005

WINNIPEG -- The Manitoba government is being urged to hand out free nicotine patches to people who can't quit smoking.

A group called the Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance gives the province high marks for increasing tobacco taxes and banning smoking in all indoor public places.

But the alliance says the government should be spending more of its tobacco tax money on helping smokers quit.

Spokesman Murray Gibson says free nicotine patches should be offered to people on low incomes or the mentally ill.

Gibson recommends patches should also be given to anyone employed by Manitoba Health because health-care workers set an example for everyone.

He says the province should pay the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba to offer counselling to people addicted to smoking.

The group also wants the province to enforce legislation prohibiting retail displays of tobacco products.

http://www.canada.com/fortstjohn/story.html?id=fcdadbe1-8b1a-4a1f-81dc-6779cff3a638

CBC News Last Updated Jan 17 2005 04:31 PM MST

EDMONTON – Health Minister Iris Evans says she will proceed carefully with her proposed province-wide smoking ban, after Premier Ralph Klein said he would never support it.

But she's getting backing from at least one cabinet colleague and the opposition.

Evans has raised the possibility of no smoking in workplaces across the province, which would essentially make restaurants and bars smoke-free.

Klein said he would never support such a ban, and that municipalities should be able to make that decision on their own.

Evans says the premier cautioned her to consult with all interested groups before moving ahead.

"I'll pay attention to that caution, where communities or neighbourhoods or individuals in communities share a different opinion, and many of those people have contacted me already, we'll see how we can look at some of the leadership in other jurisdictions and come up with the very best possible beginning of a better policy relative to smoking in public places in Alberta," she said.

Former Health minister Gary Mar, who tried to get a similar ban approved a few years ago, says Evans is doing the right thing. Mar, now minister of Community Development, says Klein has said he will respect the will of caucus, even if he doesn't agree with it.

"I think that everybody's entitled to their view and perspective, but if the Minister of Health and Wellness Iris Evans wants to bring it forward, I'll support her and I think there's many people that would support her, both within our government, but outside of government as well," Mar said.

NDP Leader Brian Mason says Klein is preventing Evans from doing her job.

"I think it would be very difficult for his Health minister to actually proceed with this approach now that he's undercut her," Mason said. "And that's really the problem, is that the premier seems to encourage his ministers to show some initiative and then when they do, he undermines them, cuts them off at the ankles and leaves them with egg on their face."

Mason said Klein's stance is contrary to his talk about creating a healthier Alberta that places fewer demands on its health-care system.

http://calgary.cbc.ca/regionalnews/caches/ca-evans-smoking20050117.html

By JACQUIE MCFARLANE Today staff and The Canadian Press
Quitting smoking is the responsibility of individuals and should be handled by municipalities, said Wood Buffalo MLA Guy Boutilier, when asked about the government’s flip-flop on a province wide smoking ban last week.
He ruled out support for a provincewide ban.
“The ideal situation is as a New Year’s resolution is for people to consider giving up smoking and then what’s done by the municipality or the province doesn’t matter because everyone is working towards the goal of giving up smoking,” said Boutilier.
Putting a smoking ban in place, said Boutilier, falls under municipal jurisdiction, which is the best way to handle it.
“We’ve given municipalities that authority rather than going provincewide where one rule fits all,” said Boutilier.
Health Minister Iris Evans announced last week she was taking the first step in what she hoped will lead to a provincewide ban on smoking in the workplace. At the time Evans was optimistic, saying “I think the premier indicated he’s very willing to take another look at how we regulate smoking or restrict tobacco use in Alberta.’’
However, Ralph Klein, speaking in Montreal Friday, said his government is not looking to implement a blanket ban on butts in public places, instead leaving that decision up to individual municipalities.
Evans retreated from her stand after Klein’s remarks. It was the second time the premier has shut down a health minister’s attempt to restrict smoking provincewide.
Gary Mar broached the subject in 2001, suggesting higher cigarette taxes at that time.
Wood Buffalo Mayor Melissa Blake said dealing with an anti-smoking bylaw in the municipality was challenging when it was passed in 2000. Now she’d like to see the province take a leading role in making legislation that’s equal across Alberta.
“I think the province should take some initiative and make it a provincewide issue. It would take all of the uncertainty out of the jurisdictions that haven’t gone as far as we have,” said Blake.
Municipalities have been pushing the government for a provincewide ban, passing a resolution at their Alberta Urban Municipalities Association meetings in 2001 and 2003. Blake noted that most of the municipalities were in support of those resolutions.
Boutilier acknowledged that health was a provincial issue but wouldn’t commit to whether that made the government responsible for regulating smoking.
Sunday marked the first day of National Non-Smoking Week, Jan. 16-22. Health Canada is working with Wal-Mart stores to get out information about quitting smoking.

http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/daily/pages/news2.html

Provincial legislation restricting smoking unwarranted: Alderman

By KEVIN CRUSH Herald-Tribune staff Januar

Premier Ralph Klein appears to have nixed any plans for a comprehensive provincial smoking ban for now, but the debate still burns on.
 

After a speech in Montreal, the premier insisted his government will not be imposing a provincewide smoking ban, preferring instead to leave it up to municipalities to decide for themselves what they want to do.
 

That comes the same week that Health Minister Iris Evans said she would seek some form of provincial smoking legislation and it is believed she will still be drafting legislation for a Tory policy committee.
 

Governments should not be butting into what should be a business decision, said Ald. Helen Rice.
 

"I believe that government has no business putting in place what I call oppressive legislation that inhibits businesses from operating in a manner that they feel most meets the needs of their customer," said Rice.
 

"Businesses, if they're going to stay in business, will meet the needs of their customers, and if they don't they won't have customers and will close, and they don't need government telling them that."
 

Grande Prairie's smoking bylaw allows smoking in any public place or workplace that doesn't allow entrance to minors. That allows some businesses to create walled-off smoking sections, to allow all smoking, or to be smoke-free. Since the bylaw came into place, Mayor Wayne Ayling said the city has received many requests from residents and non-residents to extend the bylaw to all public and workplaces. While he wants to see what Evans has in mind for legislation first, Ayling said provincial guidelines of any sort would be helpful.
 

"We welcome any initiative by the health minister to reduce the negative impact on second-hand smoke on people in the workplace or in other public places."
 

Ayling rejected arguments that a provincial smoking ban would hurt businesses.
 

"Every province or state that has imposed a jurisdiction-wide no smoking legislation has been able to show that the no-smoking legislation does not negatively impact business and does positively impact health."
 

The Alberta Urban Municipalities Association came out last week in support of a provincial smoking ban on the grounds that second-hand smoke is unhealthy in the working place. In 2001 and 2003, the association's members passed resolutions calling for provincial laws to prohibit or regulate smoking in the workplace.
 

Grande Prairie-Wapiti MLA Gordon Graydon hasn't made up his mind on whether he would support a smoking ban or not as he believes both sides have valid points.
 

"I'm kind of torn. I hear from constituents on certainly both sides of the issue," said Graydon.
 

"As the former chair of the South Peace Health Unit, I'm very conscious of the health costs of smoking, so with my health hat on I'm in favour of a provincewide ban. But generally I don't like the government to interfere in every single aspect of my life. You can have too much government."
 

The biggest problem in Alberta right now is the patchwork of municipal policies on smoking. Without any provincial guidelines, towns and cities have had to deal with smoking in their own way - if they deal with it at all. That can cause confusion from one place to the next.
 

"As a smoker, I guess you need to know what community you are in today and what are the rules today, which isn't good," said Graydon. "Uniformity across the province would solve that."
 

But Rice says uniformity can't exist from municipality to municipality on any matter.
 

"There's a patchwork of bylaws in terms of snow removal standards, and dog control bylaws. Each municipality has different ones of those things because they're different places," said Rice.
 

"It's absurd to think that everyone should have the same bylaws. I mean, people move from Edmonton to Grande Prairie fully recognizing there will be different rules and different ways."
 

Rice suggested a better option is for the province to force all municipalities to draft smoking legislation and then let them deal with the issue as they see fit, something Graydon said could be an option.
 

The Peace Country Health medical officer of health would welcome a provincial smoking ban.
 

"If we can get all workplaces - that's all office buildings, that's all restaurants, all bars, all schools, everywhere... We'll do whatever we can do as Peace Country Health to support the province in going in that direction, because it's been long overdue we think," said Dr. Albert de Villiers.
 

He said the province is lacking when compared to other provinces who have instituted smoking bans. Similar smoking bans are in effect in New Brunswick, Manitoba and Saskatchewan and are pending in Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador.

http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/Z03_00asmoking0117.lasso

Mixed messages out of Edmonton on provincial smoking ban

The very contentious issue of smoking bans and how far they should reach is gearing up again, thanks to conflicting commentary out of the Klein government last week.
Pro-smoking-ban proponents were happy to hear Health Minister Iris Evans suggest that a province wide ban of smoking in the workplace was a very real possibility.
The announcement was met by optimism from the anti-smoking lobby; disappointment and disdain from the laissez faire and pro- smoking-choice camp.
However, Premier Klein seemed to pooh-pooh the whole notion with comments late last week, saying the government would not be implementing such a wide-reaching ban. His justification was that community dynamics are so different across the province, it was not right for Big Brother government to impose operational restrictions on municipalities, rather, if the municipalities chose to do so – fine.
Blue Tory Ralph Klein has found an unlikely local ally in Red Liberal Helen Rice – longtime city alderman and manager of the DownTown Association.
First, Rice is a longtime smoker – that’s no secret.
But her tack on the issue comes from a business perspective, arguably in support of businesses involved in her workings with the association.
Rice, like Klein, believes that businesses can make and/or break their own fortunes without the help of the provincial government.
With respect to the premier, one wonders how much of his decision on the issue is politically motivated and how much is simply buck passing.
While the message of government keeping its fingers out of the day to day operations of Alberta’s small businesses resonates with many in the province, the health issue surround smoking and its societal costs continues to bear pressure.
Many governments in Canada - provincially - have adopted restrictive smoking legislation – the latest being Saskatchewan.
And if a case study in socio-economic integration of policy and practice needs a model, Lloydminster is a good one as Saskatchewan businesses complain they are losing their business to the Alberta side where smoking is still allowed.
This game of political ping pong can continue ad nauseum.
What is required is the courage of leadership and a direct attempt to solicit the views of Albertans – including Grande Prairians – on how restrictive or widespread they want smoking bans to be.
Medical evidence speaks for itself on smoking and its effects. It’s a no-brainer.
What is at issue is freedom of choice and individual rights. Should society have the right to prevent a person from smoking themselves to an early grave? It seems to have made it clear second-hand smoke is unacceptable and now most places in Canada where minors can be do not allow smoking. But how far do we go?
Governments – both provincial and municipal – have a duty to find out what their constituents want and then have the courage to implement that wish and then damn the torpedoes.
It’s as simple as that.

http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/1editorial1.lasso

By Colin McGarrigle of the Journal
Tuesday January 11, 2005

Just as predicted by management, business is suffering badly at one local bar ever since the smoking ban came into effect on January 1.
Waneta Goldstein, manager of Chances R Motor Hotel said that her bottom line has taken a drastic and sudden drop now that previously loyal customers are spending more time at home.
"Business is very noticeably down. In such a short time, that's very scary," said Goldstein.
"They (customers) pop in quick, have a beer and leave. They're not sitting for two, three, four beer, or for the evening any more," said Goldstein on the pattern she has seen since Jan. 1.
"If they smoke, they go outside. But most of the time they just guzzle a beer and leave," she added.
In December, Goldstein was forced to lay off two bar staff because of her prediction that her business would take a turn for the worst with the smoking ban.
She added that they are enforcing the smoking ban at Chances R even though many bars in the province have been allowing their customers to smoke since the government announced there would be a two-month transition period.
However, Health Minister John Nilson clarified his position last week on the transition period and stated that bars would be ticketed if they do not enforce the smoking ban.
"During this initial 60-day period, we want to give everyone the opportunity to comply. This period does not mean, however, that smoking in public places can continue until March 1, 2005," said Nilson.
"If, after information, education and verbal or written warning, establishments or individuals remain in flagrant non-compliance they may well face tickets or charges," Nilson added.
Goldstein said that even though there are no tickets being handed out, she fears that non-compliance over the two-month period could hurt her chances of renewing her liquor license.
"They won't ticket us or the patrons for the two months, but they will write us up and send it off to the Liquor Control Board.
"Then it could be held against you when your liquor license has to be renewed," said Goldstein on the chance she is not willing to take.

MARY-JANE EGAN, Free Press City Hall Reporter 2005-01-18

A bid to allow smoking in psychiatric facilities gained sympathy but insufficient support at a city committee last night. Kathleen Gillard made an emotional pitch to the community and protection services committee to exempt psychiatric facilities from the no-smoking bylaw, arguing the ban discriminates against the mentally ill who can't deal with the stress of nicotine withdrawal while trying to cope with their illnesses.

Most mental illness patients smoke, Gillard said. And her sister, Janet, who suffers from schizophrenia, has escaped needed care at London psychiatric facilities when she's been allowed out of lockdown to smoke outside.

"Who is going to pay for the two police officers who are called when my sister goes AWOL? This is her home. Why shouldn't she be able to smoke in her home?" she said of her sister's stints at St. Joseph's Regional Health Care's former London Psychiatric Hospital.

When London's smoking ban went into effect in 2003, a one-year moratorium was placed on psychiatric facilities because nicotine withdrawal can affect patients' medical regimen.

Coun. Joni Baechler said although she understands Gillard's concerns, the bylaw is designed to protect workers from second-hand smoke.

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2005/01/18/901716-sun.html

CBC News Last Updated Jan 18 2005 01:56 PM CST

REGINA – There are now officially two sets of laws when it comes to where people can smoke in Saskatchewan.

On Tuesday, the federal government decided it wouldn't block a First Nations bylaw which allows smoking areas in the Bear Claw casino at White Bear First Nation near Carlyle.

It's a significant setback for the Saskatchewan government, which has been trying to impose a province-wide smoking ban in all enclosed public places, including bars, restaurants and casinos.

Maynard Sonntag, Saskatchewan's Minister of First Nations and Metis Relations said he is hopeful that he can still reach some kind of deal with aboriginal leaders.

Sonntag said the province is willing to be flexible on other rights for aboriginal people, if the two sides can reach an agreement on the smoking issue.

"The discussions I've been having is essentially to determine whether or not there is room for movement from the FSIN (Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations) and from the chief to determine whether or not they're interested in trying to advance the causes of inherent rights with the province," Sonntag said.

Sonntag would not be more specific about which rights the province is willing to negotiate on with aboriginal people. He said if he gave details, he might jeopardize the talks.

Last week, federal Indian Affairs Minister Andy Scott said he'd need some time to think about whether or not to approve the White Bear smoking bylaw.

http://sask.cbc.ca/regionalnews/caches/casino050118.html

CFCN.ca POSTED AT 5:21 PM Monday, January 17

Some Calgary aldermen say they will try to push city council to move up the public ban on smoking.

The ban is set to go in effect in all public places in 2008.

But anti-smoking activists say three years is too long to wait.

They pushing council to re-open the debate and speed up the implementation of the bylaw.

Ward 13 alderman Diane Colley-Urquhart agrees the ban should be brought in sooner.

"Now is the time," she says. "All of the research tells us that we have a responsibility to ensure the public health of the citizens of Calgary."

Colley-Urquhart says she will wait until after the Ward 10 by-election in February before bringing up the smoking bylaw again.

http://www.cfcn.ca/servlet/RTGAMArticleHTMLTemplate/B/20050117/smokingbylaw?brand=generic&hub=&tf=CFCNPlus/generic/hubs/frontpage.html&cf=CFCNPlus/gene

ric/hubs/frontpage.cfg&slug=smokingbylaw&date=20050117&archive=CFCNPlus&ad_page_name=&nav=home&subnav=fullstory

MEDIA ALERT - Attention Assignment Editors:

    OTTAWA, Jan. 18 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is proud that during National Non-Smoking Week a critical tobacco court case will be heard by the Supreme Court. The case involves the tobacco industry's challenge of Saskatchewan's ban on tobacco displays in premises accessible by minors.
    The Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Lung Association, the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society have made a written submission to the Court in support of the ban. The case will be heard January 19 - Weedless Wednesday.
    CMA President, Dr. Albert Schumacher will be available by phone to discuss the importance of the case.

For further information: Carole Lavigne, (613) 731-8610 or  1-800-663-7336 ext. 1266
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2005/18/c4178.html

By PETER SELBY
head of the Nicotine Dependence Clinic Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto
Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - Page A18

Toronto -- Re No Smoking Ban Planned In Alberta, Klein Says (Jan. 15): I was alarmed by Alberta Premier Ralph Klein's conclusion that smokers are stupid. It's disconcerting that there continues to be a serious lack of understanding of Canada's No. 1 public health problem.

Like other addictions, the drive to smoke can be too powerful for a person to resist. In fact, 50 to 60 per cent of smoking behaviour is genetically determined. The addiction to tobacco is a real disease, classified as such by the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association.

Just like any other chronic disease, tobacco dependence has biological, social and environmental determinants characterized by remission (stopping) and relapse (starting again). Many smokers relapse because their brains have been seriously affected by tobacco, and studies show that these abnormalities can persist for years after a smoker stops. We know that comprehensive strategies, including smoke-free environments, help smokers quit for good.

Mr. Klein should consider educating himself about how he could help Albertans by realizing that quitting smoking is a process and not an event.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050118/LETTERS18-6/TPNational/Canada

Canadian Press

Toronto — Smokers in Ontario will have to pay $1.25 more per carton as of midnight Tuesday as the provincial Liberal government raises tobacco taxes for the third time since coming to office.

“With this increase, Ontario comes one step closer to its plan to raise tobacco taxes to the national average,” Finance Minister Greg Sorbara said Tuesday.

The current national average is about $30 in provincial tobacco taxes. This increase boosts Ontario to $23.45, a spokeswoman for Mr. Sorbara said.

Since the Liberals were elected in October 2003, they have raised provincial tobacco taxes by $6.25, including this increase.

Mr. Sorbara said this move “is part of our comprehensive strategy to eliminate tobacco consumption, especially among young people.”

The higher tax means the cost of a pack of 20 cigarettes will rise by about 13 cents and a pack of 25 cigarettes will be up by about 16 cents.

Mr. Sorbara said this is part of the province's Smoke-Free Ontario campaign, which aims to reduce the number of smokers in the province and ties in with National Non-Smoking Week.

“Smoking is the No. 1 preventable cause of premature death and illness in Ontario, and it costs an estimated $1.7-billion a year in health-care spending to treat diseases directly caused by tobacco,” Mr. Sorbara said.

When the Liberals came into office they boosted provincial tobacco taxes by $2.50 a carton as part of other tax hikes, then raised them by $2.50 in last May's budget.

As part of its efforts to curtail smoking, the government has also introduced legislation to ban smoking in all workplaces and all public places, and aims to prevent young people from picking up the habit.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050118.wonta0118/BNStory/National

Fred Neukamm appears before the Ontario Legislature’s standing committee of finance and economic affairs

By Patrick Brennan Times-Journal Staff Tuesday January 18, 2005
LONDON, Ont. -- Fred Neukamm is a man running short on patience.
The chairman of the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers’ Marketing Board appeared Monday before the Ontario Legislature’s standing committee of finance and economic affairs and pleaded the case for the government to live up to its promises.
“We need a fulfillment of the promise for immediate assistance,” Neukamm said. That promise was made by the Liberals as they campaigned in the provincial election.
“As of yet, we’ve not seen that promise fulfilled,” Neukamm said outside the room at the Four Points Sheraton where the committee heard him and a long list of groups appearing to make their point before the budget is handed down.
Neukamm said the tobacco growers are looking for assurances from the provincial government on whether they are prepared to sustain the tobacco industry as long there is consumption.
If the answer to that is issue is yes, Neukamm said long-term strategies are needed.
“Right now, we are in crisis management,” he said, referring to the tobacco board which represents 1,000 farm families, many of them in east Elgin, the Tillsonburg area, and Norfolk county.
If the government does not want to support sustainability, there is a need for more money to address growers’ needs, said Neukamm.
“We need immediate help right now because policies have driven the market down faster than any decline in consumption,” he said.
High taxes are only one issue, he said. That is having the net effect of forcing smokers to look for black market cigarettes.
Cigarette manufacturers, in turn, are looking to import cheap tobacco to keep their costs down and protect their share of the market, Neukamm said.
Overall, he said, compound problems are forcing about 100 growers out of business a year.
Neukamm said growers know the industry is in decline because of fewer smokers and need government help to manage a drop in consumption.
He said he took advantage of the opportunity to address the committee because of the issues are much broader than the provincial agriculture portfolio.
“Every opportunity we have to talk about this, we will take,” he said.

http://www.stthomastimesjournal.com/story.php?id=137975

Broadcast News January 18, 2005

REGINA -- A media report says the federal Indian Affairs minister will not intervene in a bylaw that allows smoking at a First Nations casino in southeastern Saskatchewan, despite a province-wide ban on smoking in public places.

The report on CBC says minister Andy Scott told his Saskatchewan counterpart of his decision last night.

The province outlawed smoking in all enclosed public places on Jan. 1, but aboriginal leaders argued that the law doesn't apply on their land.

The White Bear First Nation passed the bylaw last month that allows smoking in its Bear Claw casino and bingo halls on the reserve near Carlyle.

Under the Indian Act, if a band has a bylaw that conflicts with provincial legislation, the bylaw prevails unless the federal minister objects.

Saskatchewan's aboriginal affairs minister, Maynard Sonntag had asked Scott to quash the bylaw.

Sonntag says he'll continue pressing to get the same set of rules for all businesses in the province.

He also says he will continue to talk to First Nations officials in an effort to reach an agreement on the smoking issue.

http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/news/story.html?id=c72f4e1b-04cf-44fa-8f82-1d805b4132f6

Dan Dugas Canadian Press January 18, 2005

OTTAWA (CP) -- As Canadians mark Weedless Wednesday, the country's highest court will be the scene of a high-stakes tobacco showdown.

Supreme Court justices will hear arguments on a Saskatchewan law barring cigarette promotional displays in stores accessible by children.

The Saskatchewan law was struck down by a lower court as butting into federal jurisdiction -- a ruling that could eventually quash similar laws in other provinces -- and the provincial government is appealing.

The federal government, six provinces, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Lung Society, the Canadian Medical Association and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada are intervenors.

On the other side of the argument is Rothmans, Benson and Hedges Inc.

The company will argue that Saskatchewan cannot enact legislation that goes further than the federal Tobacco Control Act, which already places severe restrictions on cigarette advertising.

Health groups say it's a pivotal case.

"Obviously, (the industry is) looking at any argument it can to strike down legislation that's having an impact on its sales and profits,'' said lawyer Rob Cunningham of the cancer society.

"Ultimately, what's driving the decision making at Rothmans, Benson and Hedges is its desire to maximize profits and sales.''

Health groups estimate the tobacco industry paid $90 million to retailers in Canada in 2003 for promotional displays as a marketing tool to boost sales.

They say young people should not be exposed to displays of addictive and potentially lethal tobacco products.

"Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable lung disease and the leading cause of preventable death in Canada,'' said Deirdre Freiheit, president of the Canadian Lung Association.

"Retail displays have been used by the tobacco industry to target and manipulate youth. We must protect Canadians, especially our children, from inducements to consume this deadly product.''

The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal ruled in 2003 that the ban on retail displays was in conflict with the federal Tobacco Act.

Manitoba and Nunavut have adopted legislation similar to that in Saskatchewan and Ontario introduced anti-tobacco legislation late last year that would, among other things, curb displays of cigarettes in stores.

Sally Brown of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada said it's critical to uphold the Saskatchewan legislation because of its affect on other provinces.

On Tuesday, Ontario hiked tobacco taxes by $1.25 a carton -- the third increase since the Liberals took office in 2003.

Finance Minister Greg Sorbara said the move "is part of our comprehensive strategy to eliminate tobacco consumption, especially among young people.''

http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/news/story.html?id=4b8d7a94-ebe3-4b72-9dfa-577935ee7970