Smoking ban advocates try to ignite support with councillors

The manager of the local Canadian Cancer Society office is “very surprised and disappointed” several Lambton County councillors don’t support restricting smoking at outdoor public spaces.

A standing committee of county council voted against adopting a bylaw recently to ban lighting up within nine metres of municipal building entrances, public playgrounds, pools and play fields.

The committee’s decision is not in line with public opinion, said Helen Cole, manager of the Canadian Cancer Society in Lambton County.

Public meetings and surveys held by the county’s community health services department showed a favourable response to the proposed bylaw.

Of 300 people the department heard from, 70% favoured restricting smoking around entrances to municipal buildings.

“It demonstrates the public feels it’s time (for the bylaw) and I was just totally surprised by the standing committee’s decision,” Cole said.

County council will make its decision March 7. At that time, city/county coun. David Boushy will speak in favour of passing the bylaw.

For Boushy, the issue is close to his heart. An ill friend of his suffered, walking past smokers outside, when he regularly went to a community hall. The friend asked the health unit for help, but was told there was no bylaw in place. Four months later, the friend died.

“I’d be lying to you if I tell you he died from that (second-hand smoke) because I don’t know, but I can tell you for sure that didn’t help,” Boushy said.

A thousand non-smoking Canadians die annually from second-hand smoke, according to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Officials said smoke levels within a half-metre of a lit cigarette outdoors are comparable to indoor smoking levels.

Cole said the bylaw would help motivate smokers to quit because it would make smoking less convenient.

It would also make tobacco use appear less normal to children.

“We know our young people model behaviour of adults,” Cole said. “If they’re seeing adults out in public, smoking, that means this is normal behaviour.”

Boushy said he knows it could be challenging securing support at council. He plans to propose an amendment to the bylaw that, he said, will appease both sides.

Boushy wants to focus on making only youth-friendly locations, like soccer fields and baseball diamonds, smoke-free because he thinks he can garner enough support.

“I’m sure they (councillors) have children and grandchildren who play baseball and soccer,” he said.