McKibbon set to speak on smoke-free act

With the province’s public smoking ban coming into effect May 31, the Northwestern Health Unit has been working hard to let people learn about the impact of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act.
As such, town council has scheduled Jennifer McKibbon, the local tobacco strategy co-ordinator for the health unit, to be at Tuesday night’s meeting to speak to residents and business owners.
“I want to cover what’s new. The Tobacco Control Act has existed for 10 years, and the Smoke-Free Ontario Act is that act reworked,” McKibbon said in interview Thursday.
The presentation, which is scheduled to start around 7:15 p.m., will cover aspects of that legislation, including:
•the impact of the law on the public;
•the roles of municipalities, health units, and enforcement agencies;
•the obligations on owners/occupants of facilities; and
•the penalties for breaking the law.
“We, as a health unit, are already sending out information packages, individually, to all the workplaces and public places we work with,” noted McKibbon.
“But this is another opportunity for people to hear it, and to ask questions if there’s clarification needed.
“If they have any interest in the act at all, or if they happen to be a business or tobacco vendor or public place that’s going to be affected, they may want to take the opportunity,” she added.
McKibbon also will be speaking to the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce membership earlier Tuesday during a business luncheon meeting.
One of the strongest smoke-free laws in North America comes into effect May 31, according to the health unit.
For residents of the Kenora and Rainy River districts, that means all workplaces, including bars and restaurants, will become 100 percent smoke-free.
It also means much greater restrictions on the retail promotion of tobacco products, with a complete display ban coming into effect two years from now on May 31, 2008.
As the countdown to May 31 continues, the public can contact the Northwestern Health Unit at 1-888-404-4231 for information and resources to help prepare for a smoke-free Ontario.
(Fort Frances Daily Bulletin)