Tougher Smoking Ban for British Columbia Smokers

March 10, 2007

Smokers might as well kick the butt. There will be no escape into outdoor areas in eateries or distant patios, as the newly to- be- released bill of British Columbia hits the public.

The new anti smoking legislation introduced a few days back will ban smoking in all indoor public spaces as well as in public doorways, and 'near' the doors, windows and air intakes of any building accessible by the public.

Says Health Minister George Abbott: 'Some people will see it as intrusive, others will say we didn't go far enough. But I think we will have the great weight of public opinion supporting this.'

According to Abbott, the law will also ban the display of tobacco and related products in stores accessible to anyone under the age of 19.

This will put an end to 'power walls' of cigarettes and tobacco advertising, opines Abbott.

The B.C. government states that each year, tobacco use kills more than 6,000 people and costs the provincial economy $2.3 billion, while provincial taxes on tobacco account for only $700 million in annual revenue.

Says Finance Minister Carole Taylor,'There is no question that smoking is an enormous drain.

'The taxes we raise from cigarettes only pay a tiny part of the health care costs', she added. 

Medindia on Tasmanian Car Smoking Ban Sets Good Example For Other Governments  AMA President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, today welcomed the decision by the Tasmanian Government to ban smoking in cars carrying anyone under 18.

AMA President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, today welcomed the decision by the    Tasmanian Government to ban smoking in cars carrying anyone under 18 years of age and to not allow the sale of fruit-flavoured cigarettes in the State.

Dr Haikerwal said both decisions set a good example to the other States and Territories.

“The car smoking ban is sensible and responsible,” Dr Haikerwal  said.

“It removes another health hazard from our kids and will hopefully convince smokers to make their cars a total smoke-free zone or, better still, give up  the killer habit totally.

“The fruit-flavoured cigarettes are another Big Tobacco trick that had  to be outlawed.

“The AMA congratulates the Tasmanian Government for taking these major steps to rid our community of smoking and the harm it causes.

“We urge other governments to put in place similar legislation,” Dr Haikerwal said.

Medindia on Health Hazards of Smoking

Smoking is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Smoking still remains one of the leading cause of preventable death. Smoking has the dubious distinction of affecting all the systems from head to foot.

Smoking is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Smoking still remains one of the leading cause of preventable death. Smoking has the dubious distinction of affecting all the systems from head to    foot.

http://www.medindia.net:80/news/view_news_main.asp?x=19020

http://www.smokersclubinc.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3845

Mounties looking for smoke robbers -AB

Tuesday March 13, 2007

By Record Staff

Fort Saskatchewan RCMP are looking for two men suspected of stealing tobacco  products from Safeway last Thursday afternoon.

RCMP and the Fort Saskatchewan Fire Department both attended the scene after it was discovered that two men, aged 30 to 40-years-old, gained entry into a  locked storage area and stole an undetermined amount of tobacco.

The two suspects possibly fled in a white crew-cab pick-up truck.

One suspect was wearing blue coveralls the other was wearing a tan coloured bomber-style jacket. The first suspect had a moustache while the other is described as tall and slim with eyeglasses.

The RCMP forensic identification unit attended the scene and Mounties continue to investigate.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the Fort SaskatchewanRCMP detachment at 992-6100 or Crimstoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

http://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/News/293491.html

Cheap, illegal tobacco gaining ground, Mounties say -NL

Last Updated: Wednesday, March 14, 2007 | 3:23 PM NT

CBC News

The trade of contraband tobacco has surged in Newfoundland and Labradorin recent months, with police warning the public not to be tempted by the deep discounts offered by illegal vendors.

A contraband 200-gram can of tobacco sells on the street for about $30 — roughly a third of what the legal version costs at retailers.

"I think that the contraband tobacco is at a high level here in the province right now," said Sgt. Jim Power, who works with the RCMP's customs and excise unit.

"I don't think it's just a concern for the police. I think it's certainly a concern for the health of people, and it's a concern for the consumers."

Last year, the RCMP seized about three times as much illegal tobacco as  they did in 2005.

For retailers like Patty Chafe, who runs a convenience store in Corner Brook, there is still far too much illegal tobacco on the market, and her tobacco and cigarette sales have been hurting.

"I have people who come in periodically and ask [whether] I have bags of tobaccounderneath the counter," she said.

"And I kind of chuckle and say to myself, 'I wouldn't be in business very  long if I did.'"

RCMP say much of the illegal trade in tobacco in Newfoundland and Labrador  originates in native reserves in Ontario and Quebec. Police said smuggled materials are distributed across the province.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2007/03/14/

Night spots hiring extra staff to deal with smokers -AB

Last Updated: Wednesday, March 14, 2007 | 2:29 PM MT

Restaurant and bar owners on Calgary's popular 17th Avenue say they've had to hire extra staff to deal with the smokers who are lining up outside the establishments to puff away.
    
On any Friday or Saturday night you will see lineups in front of Melrose Cafe and Bar, Morgan's Pub and the Yardhouse Restaurant on 17th Avenue SW. But since the city's new no-smoking bylaw kicked in on Jan. 1, two  lineups are forming.

Craig King, spokesman for Melrose, said smokers have to go through a series        of steps just to smoke a cigarette because of past problems with line  crashers.

"We have hired a couple more door staff. One to control the crowd that is coming in so that we are efficient there and the other one is … to help organize the smoking for people who choose to smoke."

Down the street, the Yardhouse is also having to contend with two lineups of customers. Head chef Chris Anderson says restricting smoking  to the parking lot has created a mess.

"You just look at our parking lot outside and it's completely covered  in cigarette butts."

Organizing the smokers seems to be working. Both King and Anderson say even though they have had to hire extra staff, there's been an increase  in business since the no-smoking bylaw came into effect.

The bylaw makes it illegal to light up in all public places, including  restaurants and bars.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2007/03/14/calgary-smokinglines.html

'Smoking-club' operator fined $3,000 -ON

Lorianne Garrison, The Ottawa Citizen

Published: Thursday, March 15, 2007

The proprietor of a smoking club in Smiths Falls who attempted to defy the Ontario no-smoking bylaw has been fined for his violations.

Mr. Mike Kennedy, who operated the former Do Little’s  Club, wasordered by a justice of the peace in Perth on Thursday to pay $3,530 under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, which was enacted in May 2006 and prohibits smoking in certain public places such as bars, restaurant and clubs.  

Mr. Kennedy had challenged the act on the grounds that the club he operated  was an invitation-only club and therefore not a public place.

“We’re happy to see that the challenge to the act was found to befrivolous,” said Yves Decostes, the tobacco co-ordinator  for theLeeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit. “(The act) protects thepublic from second-hand smoke.”

Mr. Kennedy was charged with “failure to post prescribed signs prohibiting  smoking in an enclosed public place, failure to ensure that no ashtrays or  similar equipment remain in the enclosed public place, failure to ensure the  compliance with the requirement that no person smoke tobacco in an enclosed  public place, obstructing an inspector from conduction an inspection and smoking  tobacco in an enclosed space,” he health unit said

Mr. Kennedy was given 90 days to pay the fine.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html

Private club owner vows to continue smokefight -ON

Fri, March 16, 2007

By CP

PERTH -- The man behind a short-lived private smoker's club in Smiths Falls  intends to appeal his recent conviction under the Smoke Free Ontario Act.

"We're definitely going for an appeal. It's without a question," Mike Kennedysaid yesterday.

Kennedy said he acknowledged to the court he was the proprietor of the club  during the three weeks it was in operation last September. It reverted to a  smoke-free bar because of a lack of business.

Kennedy was found guilty on five charges and fined $3,530 by justice of the  peace Darryl Bartraw during a trial last week in Perth.

"I'm disappointed, but not surprised," he said.

Kennedy didn't raise a constitutional challenge against the Smoke-Free Ontario Act as he vowed previously, but instead argued through his lawyer Mark MacDonald  that the act didn't apply to a private club with a membership fee.

He said    he could appeal based on the Canadian Charter of Rights, on the grounds the findings of the court were incorrect.

"The process is the process and let's see what happens down the line," he said.

Kennedy was convicted for failing to post prescribed signs prohibiting smoking,  allowing ashtrays at the tables, allowing smoking to occur in the club, obstructing a health inspector and smoking in an enclosed public place.

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/CityandRegion/2007/03/16/3761929-sun.html

Smiths Falls club owner fined for violating no-smoking bylaw -ON

Published: : Friday, March 16, 2007

BY LORIANNE GARRISON

Man had claimed establishment not a public place

The proprietor of a smoking club in Smiths Falls who attempted to defy the Ontario no- smoking bylaw has been fined for violations.

Mike Kennedy, who operated a club formerly known as Dolittle’s Club in Smiths Falls, has been ordered to pay $ 3,530 under the Smoke- Free  Ontario Act, which prohibits smoking in certain public places such as bars,  restaurant and clubs. Mr. Kennedy had previously challenged the act in regards  to his establishment on the grounds that it was an invitation- only club and  therefore not a public place.

“ We’re happy to see that the challenge to  the act was found to be frivolous,” said Yves Decostes, the Tobacco co- ordinator for the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit. The act “ protects  the public from secondhand smoke.”

According to the health unit, under the act, Mr. Kennedy has been charged with, “ failure to post prescribed signs prohibiting smoking in an enclosed public place, failure to ensure that no ashtrays or similar equipment remain in the enclosed public place, failure to ensure the compliance with the requirement that no person smoke tobacco in an enclosed public place, obstructing an inspector from conduction an inspection and smoking tobacco in an enclosed space.”

Mr. Kennedy has been given 90 days to pay the sum by aPerth justice of the peace.

The Smoke- free Ontario Act came into effect province- wide in May 2006 amid much controversy.

Mr. Kennedy was not available for comment yesterday.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html

6 teens arrested at Gatineau school for marijuana, cigarettes -QC

Last Updated: Friday, March 16, 2007 | 2:13 PM ET

CBC News

Police arrested six students aged 13 to 17 at a Gatineau high school Thursday  for smoking marijuana and selling contraband cigarettes.

The principal of du Versant secondary school on de-la-Cité Boulevard called the Gatineau police school resource officer because he was worried about students smoking marijuana during lunchtime and the effect it would have on  their studies, said Gatineau police Lieut. Jean-Paul LeMay.

Police observed students at the school, then arrested five for consuming marijuana  and one for selling contraband cigarettes.

"He had that all in one bag — about 400 cigarettes — and  he was selling them for 50 cents a unit on school property," LeMay  said, adding that the student will be ticketed under Quebec's Tobacco Act.  Police seized the cigarettes.

LeMay acknowledged that sometimes schools can solve similar problems on their  own.

"But sometimes they need our assistance to send a strong message," he said.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/03/16/gatineau-school-arrests.html