Smoking bylaw debate re-ignites

While Alberton Reeve John Milling was enjoying a vacation in sunnier climes, council chambers there and in Emo also generated heat during discussions on the proposed smoking ban bylaw last week.
In last week’s Times, Reeve Milling, expressing his personal opinion, wrote in support of the smoking bylaw recommended by Dr. Pete Sarsfield, CEO and medical officer of health for the Northwestern Health Unit .
“Because businesses are not regulating themselves, I feel we must,” he wrote.
Councillors would have voted against the bylaw at Alberton’s regular monthly meeting last Wednesday night, but Reeve Milling had requested the issue be tabled until next month’s meeting when he’ll be present.
Jennifer McKibbon, a representative of the Northwestern Health Unit, and members of the Emo-La Vallee-Devlin Heart Health Coalition also plan to attend.
In his letter, Milling wrote about a discussion he had with Chuck Arpin, owner of Pinewood Sports and Marine in Alberton, who said he would support the bylaw because it would take the pressure off his business—it would be the government that’s requiring him to ask a customer not to smoke.
But Coun. Bill Morrison said it shouldn’t be up to municipalities to police businesses.
“If a business doesn’t want customers smoking, they should put up a ‘No smoking’ sign,” he said, adding he thinks municipalities are the scapegoat in all this.
“If Chuck Arpin supports the ban, why doesn’t he take the initiative and ban smoking?”
Last Thursday night’s council meeting in Emo was equally contentious. Reeve Russ Fortier, who previously had been against the smoking bylaw mainly due to concerns over enforcement, reversed his stance.
“I’ve thought about it and we have a responsibility [to pass the bylaw],” he said.
He suggested council start drafting a bylaw, and form a committee with business owners, councillors, and members of the public to discuss the issue.
“When [Dr. Sarsfield] declares it’s a hazard, it puts us in a libelous situation,” Reeve Fortier said. “Enforcement is a secondary issue. We should pass the bylaw and then worry about enforcement.
“I think, in time, we’re not going to have a choice. I’m certainly in a position that I’ll support it.”
The Heart Health Coalition also met with La Vallee council last Wednesday night. Council there has deferred passing a bylaw on the issue and instead is taking a wait-and-see approach.
Reeve Ken McKinnon said all municipalities in the district would have to support the bylaw to make it effective.
“The only way I see it working is if everybody gets on board, otherwise it’s going to be a real hodge-podge and really confusing for the public,” he warned.
“Being a smaller, rural area, we basically only have one public place—the community hall—so really what we’re hoping is that neighbouring municipalities support it.”
Chapple Reeve Bill Clink said his council is facing the same problem.
“We haven’t made a decision yet. We all agree second-hand smoke is a hazard but should government take a lead role?” he wondered. “If we don’t enforce it, we could be fined.”
The Heart Health Coalition will meet with Emo council next Wednesday (Feb. 27) and then Alberton on Wednesday, March 13 to discuss the smoking bylaw as part of the health unit’s plan to eliminate second-hand smoke from all enclosed public places.