Several anti-smoking advocates are encouraged by city council’s decision to move to ban smoking and vaping from outdoor patios and all municipal-owned green spaces.
City council voted 6-1 to approve a motion during its executive meeting on March 25 to amend the smoking bylaw. Coun. Brian Swanson was opposed.
Saskatchewan Coalition for Tobacco Reduction
Council needs to take three actions once the bylaw amendment is officially approved, Jennifer May, vice-president of community engagement with The Lung Association and a representative for the Saskatchewan Coalition for Tobacco Reduction, told city council.
This includes marking smoke-free spaces with adequate signage; implementing a communications strategy to inform residents of the changes; and creating a short transition strategy from the bylaw’s approval to when it goes into effect.
To ensure there is good compliance and to prevent headaches with enforcing the bylaw, May suggested removing vaping from one section in the bylaw dealing with cultural or ceremonial smoking. She also recommended a 100-per-cent ban on smoking or vaping in parks, playgrounds or sports fields.
“Regina has not done a good job (with signage) and they have had lots of complaints and problems,” added Donna Pasiechnik with the Canadian Cancer Society — Saskatchewan division. “You can’t expect people to know where to smoke if there are no signs.”
It is enjoyable going to a restaurant without inhaling cigarette smoke, said Coun. Brian Swanson. However, he was concerned that businesses would incur expenses to create a legal place to smoke outside. He wondered where smokers are allow to puff if not in parks or outdoor patios.
The coalition is not asking that smoking be banned everywhere — such as sidewalks and streets — but simply places where people gather outside, where kids play sports, all recreational areas and outdoors patios where people work, said Pasiechnik.
“We are trying to do everything our power to make smoking less desirable, less normal, so our kids grow up and choose not to smoke,” she said, adding most Moose Javians would likely support this smoking ban.
Smoking is the No. 1 cause of premature death and kills 48,000 Canadians yearly, said May.
People for a Smoke-Free Moose Jaw
More than 100 Canadian cities have passed similarly comprehensive bylaws, said Dr. Mark Brown, a family physician and representative of People for a Smoke-Free Moose Jaw. The evidence is overwhelming that restaurants and bars thrive when anti-smoking bylaws are in place.
“That’s been like that ever since smoking (bans) in public places came into effect,” Brown said.
Vaping is addictive and touted as a replacement for smoking, he noted. However, physicians know it stills damages lungs.
Brown’s daughter thought it was cool that the City of Moose Jaw planned to ban vaping in public places. She told him that many of her peers vape regularly. He concurred, telling council it’s exploding among teens since the vaping industry targets that demographic.
“If teens get hooked, you have a customer for life,” he added. “So this (policy) is important for future children and grandchildren.”
Saskatchewan Health Authority
The Saskatchewan Health Authority also weighed in on the bylaw changes.
“We are extremely happy with the (bylaw) amendment and are impressed with council addressing smoking and vaping behaviours, rather than being fixated on the actual substance being smoked or vaped,” said Dr. Mark Vooght, a medical health officer in the Moose Jaw area.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority is encouraged that the bylaw amendments cover parks and playgrounds, Vooght said. The amendments would help prevent children from experiencing the harmful effects of smoking and vaping.
Health officials know that a comprehensive smoke-free policy reduces exposure to second-hand smoke and reduces overall health-care costs. It also has a positive effect on businesses since, based on research, restaurants and bars would see an increase in patrons.
