Ontario Anti Smoking Law 3
The time is rapidly approaching when we will no longer be able to smoke in Ontario. Other than in our own homes that is, but it seems it is only a matter of time before that is outlawed too.
There are already provisions in place stating that if you require in-home nursing care, you can’t smoke for 24 hours prior to the nurse showing up or they can refuse to enter your home. I can agree with not smoking while the person is attending to your needs, but to ban me for 24 hours in my own home seems excessive. These guardians of our health are just getting more and more ridiculous. Some hospitals ban you from smoking in your own car if you are on their property. Some doctors won’t treat patients who smoke. Where is it going to end?
In Ontario, the Smoke Free Ontario Act will prohibit smoking in all workplaces and enclosed spaces that are open to the public. In Quebec, Bill 112 takes effect May 31 barring smoking in all public places. Saskatchewan has the Tobacco Control Amendment Act which came into effect Jan. 1, 2005 barring smoking in all public spaces. In Manitoba, a provincial law came into effect Oct. 1, 2004 banning smoking in bars, restaurants and other public places. However the law does not apply to reserves, military bases or other areas the government says are outside its jurisdiction. Two tiered justice? In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Smoke-Free Environment Act took effect July 1, 2005, barring smoking in all enclosed spaces including bars, restaurants and their patios and decks. I’ll bet that helped lift the economy from its dependence on pogey and welfare. New Brunswick, smoking indoors, including in bars and restaurants, has been prohibited since the fall of 2004. Just like Ontario proposes to do.
However, it seems some of the provinces have their heads on straight and actually care about the right of choice for their citizens. In Nova Scotia the total ban on smoking in public places came into effect on Dec. 1, 2003. Smoking in bars and restaurants is restricted to enclosed, separately- ventilated rooms open only to adults. Alberta has the Smoke-Free Places Act barring smoking in public places where anyone under the age of 18 can visit which comes into effect Jan. 1. It covers restaurants, offices, arenas and other public facilities. Establishments can have separate smoking areas but they must be sealed off and vented separately. British Columbia as of May 1, 2002, has the Occupational Health and Safety Act which limits employee exposure to second-hand smoke. Separate, ventilated rooms are allowed where employees cannot be compelled to serve. P.E.I. banned smoking in any public place or workplace on June 1, 2003. The law does allow specially- ventilated smoking rooms.
Gee, if these guys can allow freedom of choice, why can’t the others?
Supposedly it is a matter of health. Nonsense. If it were, why hasn’t the government kept its written election pledge to use increased tobacco taxes to help smokers with the cost of cessation products? Why does the government not ban cigarettes outright if they are so harmful? Because they got $1.4 billion in the last fiscal year from smokes. That’s forecast to rise to $1.7 billion with the recent hike in taxes – the same amount it’s estimated smoking costs the health system.
Meanwhile, Health Minister George Smitherman, who admits to having had a drug habit, is now telling us to stop smoking a legal product.
It’s enough to drive you to booze.
