Bars shut doors across province to protest smoking ban -NL
By BRADLEY BOUZANE, The Telegram Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Many members of the Beverage Industry Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (BIANL) followed through on their threat to protest the province’s smoking ban by shutting the doors to their establishments Monday.
BIANL president Marcel Etheridge said as many as 100 bars across the province took part in the protest in an attempt to convince government to allow licensed establishments to construct designated smoking rooms.
“This was a symbolic protest,” Etheridge said Monday, “first against the government, and the other thing was this was the bar owners’ way of saying to the smoking customers — which is still the largest majority of our patrons — that we appreciate their business and are going to protest to try and get a smoking room for smokers.
“In many cases, when laws are put in place, people protest and then give up and accept it … but we can’t give up protesting because this is our livelihood, it’s not simply an inconvenience. If we do not get a designated smoking room, we’re out of business and that’s the way it is.”
Etheridge, who operates a number of bars, said three bars — one in Gander, another in Traytown and a third near Bonavista — have already fallen as a direct result to a reduction in business to the smoking ban.
He said many bar owners are hanging on by the skin of their teeth until they are allowed to get a designated smoking room to stay afloat, hoping it would keep them in business and bring back some lost customers.
Evelyn Glavine, owner of a nightclub and billiards lounge in Grand Falls-Windsor, as well as a pub in Gander, took part in the protest and shut the doors to all three establishments Monday.
She said since the July 1 smoking ban for licensed establishments and decks, business has been in a tailspin. The ban, she said, has spawned problems near the bars that owners never had to deal with before.
“We did this (protest) on behalf of the smokers because no one is out there speaking for them and we know they’re there,” Glavine said.
“The government want them to go away in the bushes to have their cigarettes and we don’t think it’s fair. The only thing we’re asking for is a room where they can go and have a cigarette.
“What we’re finding now, where everybody is outside having their cigarette, they’re basically using the club for entertainment and listening to the music from the outside. They don’t (come into) the club, they just stay out and party in their vehicles.”
Glavine said her sales were down 40 per cent in July, about the same in August, and while month-end figures for September haven’t been tallied, she said they definitely didn’t increase.
Considering the ban started in the warmer summer months, Glavine is dreading the sales figures she’ll face this winter when having a cigarette outside becomes more uncomfortable.
She said bars in smaller areas are at a further disadvantage because due to less tourism traffic that would bring extra dollars to the businesses.
“There’s a lot of tourism in centres like St. John’s, but we don’t get that,” Glavine said.
“Pretty much everything in regards to festivals is over now that would bring tourism, but (we depend on regulars).
“We’re not saying we should go back to putting ashtrays out in the bars. All we’re saying is we want a comfortable place (people) can have a cigarette. Ninety per cent of our customers are smokers, and all we’re saying to government is to give us 10 per cent of our space for a smoking room. We think it’s a reasonable request.”
Etheridge said his patrons were not upset that he shut his doors during the holiday long weekend. Most of his customers, he said, appreciated his willingness to lose money to defend the rights of smokers.
He said some bars in the province are taking measures to construct smoking rooms in defiance of the law. There are two designated smoking rooms being built, Etheridge said. A third is already up and running in central Newfoundland. He government has not stepped in to shut down that room.
The setup of a designated smoking room is not an option Glavine has ruled out for either of her three businesses.
She said something must be done by government to save countless bars that have lost money since the smoking ban came into force.
bbouzane@thetelegram.com
Financial Burden
I admit Jose Rodriguez's arguments are not without merit, but he fails to discuss the financial burden on all taxpayers caused by the millions spent on additional health care secondary to smoking. ("If I die, blame me," Oct. 7.) Smoking contributes to about 32 diseases. I would come to his side if all smokers were made responsible for smoking-related health issues. I realize this is not practical. Smoking is a horrible addiction that controls its victims. Counselling and other help should be more available. The legal actions against tobacco companies should be prosecuted.
Gary J. McLaughlin
(Governments make more profits than tobacco companies.)
http://calsun.canoe.ca/Comment/Letters/2005/10/12/1258522.html
Penalize rowdy bars: councillors -ON
Carly Weeks The Ottawa Citizen Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Holmes, Bedard would recover costs from repeat bylaw offenders
Ottawa's downtown councillors want the city to crack down on bars they say are allowing late-night noise and drunken carousing to get out of control.
Somerset Councillor Diane Holmes will ask city council today to pass a motion requiring bylaw officers to be more aggressive with bars that allow or create problems.
"This is ridiculous, and it's time to now start charging the bars," Ms. Holmes said yesterday. "When people come out of the bar drunk and there's behaviour that the city is trying to control ... that cost should be transferred back to the business owner."
Ms. Holmes' ward contains the strip of bars along Elgin Street. She said while most establishments don't cause problems, "there are a few that are out of control."
While the city already has cost-recovery bylaws that allow it to bill bars for enforcement costs, they have not been used. And, according to Ms. Holmes, that's only because Ottawa has a dismal record of enforcing its own bylaws. "We have very weak enforcement at the city."
But some businesses say the city's bylaws already go too far. Fines for noise violations and other infractions make sense, but it's unfair for the city to threaten businesses with having to pay bylaw enforcement costs, said Robert Peterson, manager of the Whiskey Bar in the Byward Market.
"We pay business tax. Any business pays a lot more tax than the average individual, for the most part. To go above and beyond that, I think is a little excessive," he said. "I don't think there should be any reason to double-tax."
Ottawa and Mississauga could be the only Canadian cities with bylaws that allow the municipality to charge bars for enforcement costs, said Susan Jones, the city's director of bylaw services.
So far, though, Ottawa's bylaw department has chosen to negotiate with bar owners, instead of billing them for enforcement costs.
But if Ms. Holmes' motion is approved today, bars can expect to be billed when they repeatedly violate bylaws. "If they don't comply, then they may have to pay for the cost of the additional enforcement resources needed to address problems," said Ms. Jones, adding that those costs would be over and above fines the bar would pay for bylaw violations.
"Quite often, a ticket might be, for a noise charge, $200 on a ticket. We might have spent $1,000 in staff time having to deal with that ticket," Ms. Jones said.
Ms. Holmes isn't the only council member complaining about noisy bars. The situation is much the same in the Byward Market, said Rideau-Vanier Councillor Georges Bedard, who represents that area.
Mr. Bedard supports Ms. Holmes' motion because he said taxpayers shouldn't foot the bill for repeat violators.
"It's very costly for all of us," he said. "We have some establishments that, unfortunately, we end up going and visiting on a constant or regular basis. We somehow have to say to these people, 'What you're doing is unacceptable.' "
Ms. Holmes said enforcing the bylaw will make bar owners realize they have to be responsible when it comes to those they serve and how much they allow people to drink in their bars.
There are about 400 licensed establishments in Ottawa's central area, according to Ms. Holmes' motion.
During a crackdown on downtown bars in the spring, 318 charges were laid. The operation was conducted by police, bylaw and fire services, as well as Ontario's Alcohol and Gaming Commission. Several people were caught with open liquor in parks near Elgin Street and 30 noise bylaw charges were laid.
The Fire Station Bar, for example, was charged for overcrowding on its patio. Privilege Bar was charged twice for the same offence.
The Bulldog Pub faces a licence suspension for serving a minor, according to statements in Ms. Holmes' motion.
Mychoice.ca has gone country
Mychoice.ca has gone country and sponsored the recording and national promotion of an original smoker’s protest song “My Choice.”
All that’s needed now is for a few people in every place with a country station to make a few quick calls. Just phone in and request “My Choice” by “Too Drunk to Fish.” If they have haven’t heard of it, tell them it was sent out Sept. 27 and to check with their music director. Keep calling till they play it.
Link added to our music section http://www.smokersclub.com/audio/srmusic.html
For sale: Tobacco kilns, and lots of them -ON
Jeff Helsdon - Staff Writer Wednesday October 12, 2005
Tobacco troubles affecting many
The Tillsonburg News — A small market has developed for used tobacco kilns.
One of the issues tobacco farmers were concerned about with the now-past buyout was the loss of capital on their tobacco-specific assets, such as kilns and priming machines.
The tobacco buyout removed 279 quota holders from the province. If each had an average of six kilns, that leaves more than 1,800 kilns across the tobacco belt. The buyout didn’t address those assets and kilns are rusting away in kiln yards across tobacco country.
While there isn’t a huge demand for kilns, the good news is some are selling.Colin Decker of Colin Decker Builders specializes in moving buildings, but didn’t plan on moving buildings this year because of the red tape involved. However, the number of calls he received from people asking if he would move bulk kilns, changed all that.
“We just go so many calls that we inquired about getting the proper insurance and permits,” he said. “It took us six weeks to get all the paperwork in place. As soon as we got set up we were non-stop and we have been non-stop ever since.”
He teamed up with Eric Taylor, whose father Don was one of the original movers in the area. Decker said he is moving anywhere from one, two or three kilns up to 14 for each farmer. By the end of the season he expects to have moved 50.
Decker isn’t surprised there would be used kilns around at a reasonable price.
“It would be like 50 per cent of Norfolk County losing their driver’s license,” he said. “There would be some bargains on cars around. It’s unfortunate, but the ones who stuck with it are making the best of a bad situation.”
Simcoe-area farmer Rick Kichler is one of the farmers who took advantage of the excess kilns on the market. He added two to increase curing capacity, and wished in hind sight he bought more.The price was right, with each costing $5,000. That’s much less than the $30,000 cost of new kilns.
Otterville-area grower Hugh Zimmer took the buyout package and wishes he could unload some of the 50 kilns he has.
“The problem simply is how do you market something when there’s such a surplus,” he said.
Zimmer still used some of the kilns this past year to honour sharegrowing contracts he had for this year. What will be grown on the farm next year is still a big unknown.
Zimmer said corn was selling at $3 per bushel when he started farming in 1973. Now it’s $2.30 to $2.40 per bushel. He said tobacco isn’t a lot better with natural gas and electricity costs going up and the tobacco price going down on B grades.
Even getting rid of the the kilns isn’t always a money maker, Zimmer said. To remove a kiln, the electricity has to be disconnect, gas disconnected and then the farmer pays to dispose of the concrete pad.
“When it’s gone you still have nothing,” he said. “Then you have to figure out how to get the property taxes down to the point where you can make a living off 100 acres of sand.”
The downturn in tobacco has also hit home for DeCloet Ltd. The manufacturer of bulk kilns, automatic harvesters and other tobacco equipment didn’t build a harvester this year. It was the first year in a long time where there were no orders.
Kiln sales also took a hit.
“It’s very difficult to sell new when there’s so much used available,” said Len Erdelac of the company’s sales department.
DeCloet used to sell a fair amount of equipment into the United States. But a quota buyout there and the high Canadian dollar have curtailed sales in that direction.
As a result, the company has downsized considerably. It has diversified somewhat into the manufacture of construction heaters and is still servicing its harvesters and kilns.
http://www.tillsonburgnews.com/story.php?id=189588
Top Ontario Air Polluters Revealed
Latest data show most reported pollution in Ontario is dumped into the air
OTTAWA, Oct. 12 /CNW/ - Companies in Ontario emitted more than 888 million kilograms of air pollution in 2003, most of it associated with respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis, says a new Ontario pollution overview released today by Environmental Defence and the Canadian Environmental Law Association. That ranks Ontario No. 2 in Canada, after Alberta, for reported air releases in Canada.
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2005/12/c9853.html
Top New Brunswick Air Polluters Revealed
Latest data show most reported pollution in New Brunswick is dumped into the air
OTTAWA, Oct. 12 /CNW/ - Companies in New Brunswick emitted more than 175 million kilograms of air pollution in 2003, most of it associated with respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis, says a new New Brunswick pollution overview released today by Environmental Defence and the Canadian Environmental Law Association.
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2005/12/c9864.html
Top Quebec Air Polluters Revealed
Latest data show most reported pollution in Quebec is dumped into the air
OTTAWA, Oct. 12 /CNW/ - Companies in Quebec emitted more than 727 million kilograms of air pollution in 2003, most of it associated with respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis, says a new Quebec pollution overview released today by Environmental Defence and the Canadian Environmental Law Association. That ranks Quebec No. 3 in Canada, after Alberta and Ontario, for reported air releases in Canada.
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2005/12/c9846.html
Top Alberta Air Polluters Revealed
Latest data show most reported pollution in Alberta is dumped into the air
OTTAWA, Oct. 12 /CNW/ - Companies in Alberta emitted more than 1 billion kilograms of air pollution in 2003, most of it associated with respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis, says a new Alberta pollution overview released today by Environmental Defence and the Canadian Environmental Law Association. That ranks Alberta No. 1 in Canada, followed by Ontario and Quebec, for reported air releases in Canada.
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2005/12/c9856.html
Smash-and-grab thief gets 3-year jail term
By DAVENE JEFFREY Staff Reporter
A young Dartmouth man involved in three thefts earlier this year in which vehicles were driven through the front of stores has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Adam Leslie Griggs, 20, of Portland Street was sentenced Wednesday in Dartmouth provincial court on 13 charges including break, enter and
theft, possession of stolen goods and failing to stop while being pursued by police.
Tall and slim, Mr. Griggs wore jeans and a white undershirt under an open blue plaid shirt. He sat quietly throughout the hearing.
On Feb. 28, Mr. Griggs was involved in a smash-and-grab-style theft, in which a stolen van was driven through the doors of Penhorn Mall and into the Crescent Gold and Diamonds shop.
"Security tapes show the vehicle took two runs in order to get through the (jewelry store's) security doors," Crown attorney Greg Lenehan told the court. Jewelry worth $10,000 was taken, and nearly $25,000 worth of damage was caused to the mall and the store.
In March, Mr. Griggs participated in two similar thefts at grocery stores. On March 1, a stolen van was driven into the front of the Sobey's smoke shop in Fall River, and tobacco products were taken. About four weeks later, a stolen van was driven into the tobacco shop at the Porters Lake Superstore, and more cigarettes were stolen. Mr. Griggs and an accomplice were arrested later in Gaetz Brook.
Mr. Griggs's first known foray into crime was in December 2003, when he used his father's vehicle to steal some tires and rims from a car dealership.
This past Valentine's Day, Mr. Griggs stole a car which had been left running outside a veterinary clinic on Portland Street in Dartmouth. A short time later, police spotted the stolen car at Penhorn Mall and followed it. Mr. Griggs led police on a high-speed chase through a nearby residential area before he and another man ditched the car on Canal Street and were caught trying to run away.
During a search of Mr. Griggs's possessions, officers turned up goods stolen in a break-in at Cash Mart, the court was told.
Mr. Griggs has been in custody for the past six months, much of that time spent at the Cape Breton Correctional Centre.
All of Mr. Griggs misdeeds seem to stem from an unnamed traumatic incident in his life which the Crown, defence and judge all alluded to during the hearing.
"Clearly, you haven't addressed that," Judge Anne Derrick said, urging Mr. Griggs to "turn this page and move on with your life."
Judge Derrick said she agreed with defence lawyer Pat Atherton and Mr. Lenehan's joint recommendation for a three-year sentence.
Once paroled from prison, Mr. Griggs has a job waiting for him at his uncle's construction business in Ontario, Mr. Atherton said. Mr. Griggs's father was present in court Wednesday.
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/457560.html
Final Approval of Bill 164 Marks a New Era in Tobacco Control in Ontario: Health Agencies -ON
FOR: ONTARIO CAMPAIGN FOR ACTION ON TOBACCO
JUNE 8, 2005 - 11:44 ET
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - June 8, 2005) - Today's anticipated vote to approve Third Reading of Bill 164, the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, marks the beginning of a new era in tobacco control in Ontario, according to leading health agencies which have long advocated passage of the Bill.
The vote to approve the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, expected before Question Period today, will make virtually all public places and workplaces in the province 100% smoke-free as of May 31, 2006. It will also start a process toward a complete ban of retail displays of tobacco products on that date, which will be completed by May 31, 2008.
"Bill 164 will make nearly all workplaces and public places in the province 100% smoke-free," said Michael Perley, Director of the Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco. "The only exceptions are a few smoking rooms still functioning in long-term care facilities and psychiatric facilities, and hotel and motel rooms have still not been addressed. Other than these minor exceptions - and protection for workers is provided for in the Bill in the first two cases - we've reached our goal of a level playing field."
Perley also congratulated the government on strengthening the retail display ban provisions of Bill 164. "Going into April hearings on the Bill, there was no final date for a complete display ban. This would have left our kids exposed to tobacco industry products, and the message that they're normal and relatively harmless, indefinitely. Now, we have a drop-dead date for these displays of three years, which also allows plenty of time for adjustment by the retail sector."
The next steps in the full implementation of Bill 164 are the writing of regulations, particularly those concerning the transition period for retail displays and the regulation of smoking on outdoor patios, and the preparation of enforcement and public education plans.
The Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco is a coalition of provincial health agencies that have been working together since the early '90s in support of the implementation of effective tobacco control policies in the province of Ontario
-30-
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Michael Perley
link to over 75 reports on Supreme court ruling
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&lr=&rls=com.netscape:en-US&tab=wn&ie=UTF-8&ncl=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20050929/bc_tobacco_lawsuits_050929/20050929%3Fhub%3DCTVNewsAt11
**investigate leave the pack behind !! - see http://www.mhp.gov.on.ca/english/news100305.asp
Overview and Summary of Responses to Proposed Cigarette Ignition Propensity Regulations and Regulations Amending the Tobacco Reporting Regulations - Bill enacted Oct 5/05
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/pubs/tobac-tabac/osrpciprratrr-arprrripc/index_e.html
My letter To Woodstock Sentinel editor
Woodstock is in Oxford County. It is only one of the few counties that grows tobacco in Canada. There is a need for this product obviously, cause there's smokers. When a paper doesn't show the neighbours and family heartache, it's ignoring the farmers caught in the middle. (1)
The board accepted lower tobacco prices and lower volumes this year because of lower-priced imported tobacco and higher cigarette taxes. The amount of imported tobacco has risen to about 10 million pounds from four million over the past five years.(2) Rather than protecting the economy our government, with its ill conceived social engineering agenda is destroying farms and businesses, causing Ontario to become a "have not province". There are still at least 20% of the Canadian population smoking, according to Stats Canada. Although it makes you wonder how many there really are, crime rates have increased, smuggled and contraband tobacco has become a big underground business. In other words there is a need for quality Ontario tobacco.
“When you take $150,000 out of the cash flow of an individual [farmer] in three years' time, it hurts big time.” said president of Tobacco Farmers In Crisis, Brian Edwards in April. Since June OCAT (Ontario coalition against tobacco) has asked people to "contact MPP's in your province/riding to ask that funding be restored to Health Canada's tobacco control programme prior to funding being given to tobacco farmers." (3) It’s good to see that the OCAT care's for farmers of Ontario. It's also good to see that the tobacco control extremists realize how much they are actually hurting people who just want to be able to live. Increased funding for their "charity" and it's highly paid executives is obviously more important to them than providing support for the farmers in your area who are being forced into bankruptcy, and affect election outcomes. (4)
I agree with Nancy that we do need information from both sides of the issue. Action on Smoking and Health, was quoted in January that banning smoking in workplaces doesn't hurt businesses. He noted five provinces and territories have already brought in universal smoking bans. "The only industry that is affected by smoking bans is the tobacco industry," (5) Well the Freedom of information request has proved otherwise, and your local tobacco farmers can attest their damage.
Thank You
Linda Duguay
Editor of the Canadian Smokers Club Inc. Newsletter
Available at http://www.smokersclubinc.com/modules.php?name=News&new_topic=58
for your reference:
1 http://www.cbc.ca/story/business/national/2005/09/17/tobacco_farmers20050917.html
2 http://www.businessedge.ca/article.cfm/newsID/9890.cfm
3 Ninth point down on page http://www.ocat.org/whatsnew.html
4 Making Tobacco Control an Election Issue
Les Hagen
4 Calgary Herald article January 8, 2005http://www.smokersclubinc.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=940