While the issue remains a hot topic among municipal councils and businesses alike, one area community has decided to go ahead with banning smoking in all enclosed public places as of Sept. 3.
“It’s a significant issue but I believe there’s acceptance here in Ear Falls,” said Mayor Geoff McClain.
“It’s happening across the various jurisdictions, it’s a national health care issue,” he noted. “Of course, there’s opinions on both sides of the issue, but the majority of the population are non-smokers and the time has come.”
McClain noted council there decided to establish a bylaw last month after seeing more than 100 of Ear Falls’ 1,150 residents respond to the Northwestern Health Unit’s postcard campaign, which was launched back in January.
“We felt that was pretty impressive for the size of our community, and a pretty strong indicator this was something the public wanted,” he remarked
The bylaw—which is identical to the “gold standard” copy Dr. Pete Sarsfield of the Northwestern Health Unit handed out at the Rainy River District Municipal Association’s meeting in January—calls for no smoking of tobacco products in all enclosed workplaces, including bars and restaurants.
“There’s few provisions. For instance, if a restaurant or bar has an outside deck, 50 percent of the deck is a non-smoking area,” noted McClain.
While many municipalities have voiced concerns over how such a bylaw would affect businesses, McClain said his municipality has tried a “hands-on” approach to the issue.
“We knew there would be some establishments that would be affected by the bylaw. So councillors went out personally and discussed this with the owners,” he remarked.
These business owners now are being referred to economic development officials to get ideas as to how to make up for the projected loss of smoking customers.
“Basically, it’s about refocusing their attention. We know from other communities that have tried it there is an initial drop is business,” admitted McClain.
“But we think that could be turned around as long as an establishment offers good food, good service, and a good atmosphere,” he added.
Ear Falls is one of only a few municipalities that responded to a request from Dr. Sarsfield to establish such a bylaw. The others—Kenora, Machin, and Red Lake—replied with refusals.