Ottawa following example set by many provinces and municipalities
Ottawa (17 May 2007) - Smoking lounges in all federal government offices and federally-regulated buildings have been ordered closed by Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn.
It will take about six months to put regulations in place but the minister is urging managers and employees not to wait. "I am strongly encouraging employers to close their smoking rooms as soon as possible," the minister said Tuesday.
Blackburn said federal tests revealed particle levels so high inside smoking rooms - 245 times higher than outside levels - that the government could no longer ignore its responsibility to act in the interests of its employees. The fact that so many provinces and municipalities have already taken action was also a factor, he conceded.
There are about 12,000 enterprises subject to federal jurisdiction, including the CBC and other telecommunications operations, airports, banks, postal services, seaports and First Nations governments.
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has supported legislative and regulatory action by all levels of government on this issue. This is a province-by-province summary of smoking bans across the country as published by Health Canada in July 2006.
Health Canada Review of Public Smoking Bans in Canada
Highlights
- Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland all have a 100 per cent provincial ban on smoking in public places.
- The Workers' Compensation Boards in both the Northwest Territories and Nunavut have banned smoking in all enclosed businesses and work sites - including bars.
- The Northwest Territories passed Bill 16 that will confirm the territory's Workers' Compensation Board's regulations. The bill is expected to come into force in Fall 2006.
- British Columbia, PEI, and Alberta have legislation that restricts smoking in most places, but still allows smoking in restaurants and bars.
- Nova Scotia has passed legislation that will make all public places in the province smoke-free by December 1, 2006.
- The Yukon does not have any smoking bans in place.
British Columbia
Smoking is prohibited in all provincial government worksites and regulated in all public places, restaurants, bars, bingo halls, bowling alleys and casinos. Restaurant and bar owners in British Columbia may construct smoking rooms which do not have to be enclosed, and into which staff may volunteer to serve. However, several municipalities, mainly in the heavily populated Greater Vancouver area, have stronger bylaws that offer complete bans.
Alberta
Alberta's Smoke-free Places Act, effective January 1, 2006, restricts smoking in any public place and workplace where minors are allowed. Casinos, bingo halls and bars are exempt from these restrictions. Stronger municipal bylaws have been put in place in municipalities such as Edmonton, Strathcona and Calgary and the following cities have a 100 per cent ban of smoking in public places: Peace River, Stettler, Wainwright, Drumheller, Olds, Airdrie, and Jasper.
Saskatchewan
The Tobacco Control Act bans smoking in enclosed public spaces, including restaurants, bars, private clubs, bingo halls, bowling alleys and casinos.
Manitoba
The Non-Smokers' Health Protection Act bans smoking in all indoor public places and workplaces including restaurants, bingo halls, bowling alleys and casinos. Group living facilities and designated hotel rooms are excluded.
Ontario
The Smoke-free Ontario Act, prohibits smoking in all public places and workplaces across the province effective May 31, 2006. The Act also prohibits smoking in vehicles used for work, in reserved seating at open-air stadiums, and in underground parking. In addition, the Act gives shopkeepers until 2008 to remove large behind-the-counter displays of cigarettes.
Quebec
Quebec's Tobacco Act institutes a 100 per cent smoke-free environment in all indoor public places effective May 31, 2006. The law eliminates all private designated smoking rooms by May 2008.
New Brunswick
The New Brunswick Smoke-free Places Act prohibits smoking in indoor workplaces and enclosed public places including bingo halls, bowling alleys, casinos, restaurants, bars, and outdoor eating and drinking areas within restaurants and bars.
Nova Scotia
The Nova Scotia Smoke-free Places Act prohibits smoking in all provincial government work sites. The Act also restricts smoking in restaurants, bingo halls, and bars until 9 p.m. A province-wide smoking ban in all indoor public places and outdoor bars and patios will come into effect December 1, 2006.
Prince Edward Island
The P.E.I. Smoke-free Places Act bans smoking in virtually all public places, but allows hospitality venues to build enclosed, separately-ventilated smoking rooms. Food cannot be served in these rooms.
Newfoundland and Labrador
On July 1, 2005, Newfoundland's Smoke-free Environment Act (2002) was amended to ban smoking in all public places, including bars and bingo halls.
Yukon
While the Yukon does not have any smoking bans in place, Whitehorse, with the bulk of the territory's population, banned smoking in most public places excepting enclosed and separately ventilated smoking rooms, and specified venues such as bars. The Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board in the Yukon is in the middle of a consultation process regarding a territorial regulation relating to smoking in the workplace.
Northwest Territories
The Workers' Compensation Board for the Northwest Territories banned smoking in all enclosed businesses and work sites in the territory - including bars - and only allows designated smoking rooms in worksites which are private residences. In March 2006, the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly passed Bill 16 that will amend the Tobacco Control Act and confirm those regulations set out by the territory's Workers' Compensation Board. The bill is expected to come into force in Fall 2006.
Nunavut
On May 1, 2004, Nunavut's Tobacco Control Act came into effect banning smoking in all enclosed businesses and work sites - including bars. The Act also bans smoking within a three-metre radius of entrances and exits, and within a 15-metre radius of school grounds.
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