Okotoks - Butt ban proposed

By Laurel Nadon
Staff reporter

Being asked to butt out could become more of a common occurrence in the Town of Okotoks.
Town council will discuss at its next meeting on Monday, Nov. 27 whether or not to have administration draft an anti-smoking bylaw. The bylaw would prohibit smoking in enclosed public places, eliminating smoking sections in restaurants and smoking at bars and clubs. The bylaw, if approved, would take effect on July 1, 2007.
Perhaps surprisingly, several local pub owners and managers are in support of the town looking into creating the bylaw.
Dureij Hamdan, owner of Dee’z Sports Bar and Club, said he’s in favour of smoking being prohibited indoors.
“It saves on wear and tear with burned seats and floors,” Hamdan said. “If all the businesses are doing it, it’s not as big of an impact because everyone has to go outside to smoke.”
He said positive impacts of such a bylaw would be eliminating second-hand smoke and perhaps encouraging people to smoke less because they have to go outside to smoke.
The business currently prohibits smoking in the restaurant, but allows smoking in the bar.
Management at Boston Pizza has already been discussing moving to non-smoking, so the business would support such a bylaw, said one of the managers, Jenny Zalaski.
“Every business around us is going non-smoking,” Zalaski said. “It would be a healthier environment for the staff to work in. I don’t think it would be a big issue if we went to non-smoking. It’s expected now for most people. I don’t think a lot of customers would be surprised if it happened.”
Some customers of local bars and pubs, however, wouldn’t be in support of the town going smoke-free.
Raylene Kempin from Okotoks, who enjoyed a cigarette at the Bull Pen Pub on Friday afternoon, said smoking has already been banned everywhere else and the pub is her last bastion.
“I think we’ve got rights, too,” Kempin said, adding that she would stop going to bars if she couldn’t smoke there. “The owners of the bar should be able to decide if they want a smoking establishment. Non-smokers should decide if they want to go to a smoking establishment.”
She said she feels that all buildings will eventually be non-smoking, even if there are people opposed.
Okotoks Coun. Bill Robertson said he presented the notice of motion to council because he’s heard from residents who want a smoke-free community.

While he would prefer to see a province-wide ban, he feels the municipality should do all it can to eliminate smoking because of the health concerns.
“Children can go into a restaurant and watch people smoke and that’s a bad example to set,” Robertson said. “The biggest downside is having those people who wish to smoke go to neighbouring community bars and restaurants to smoke.”
Mayor Bill McAlpine, who has long argued that government should keep out of these decisions, said his opinion hasn’t changed.
“I struggle with the idea
of council getting into people’s personal decisions,” McAlpine said. “We do it so much with bylaws and I don’t think it’s necessary for us to get involved in that.”
He noted that council considered a similar bylaw a few years ago, but it was turned down due to the same concerns.
Some community groups, however, feel such a bylaw would benefit the town.
“We think that’s a positive step to have a non-smoking environment both for patrons and for the employees,” said Sandy Baines, co-chair of the Healthy Okotoks Coalition. “I think it sets a great example for future generations, they will only know a smoke-free environment.”
Baines would like to see the province regulate smoke-free buildings so every business has the same rules. While she feels it’s the sooner, the better for this bylaw, she also noted that the majority of restaurants in town are already smoke-free.
Baines said if council approves the bylaw, it would allow the coalition to focus on other initiatives such as programs for youth.
The Healthy Okotoks Coalition has been encouraging smoke-free restaurants and workplaces since 1997. In 2001, 15 restaurants were smoke-free and at their last survey in October of 2005, 31 were smoke-free.
Town facilities are already smoke-free and smoking is also prohibited in public places where youth are allowed under the Smoke Free Places Act which took effect on Jan. 1, 2006.
A recent community household survey performed by the town shows that residents are also largely in support of banning smoking.
The study found that 80 per cent of respondents were very supportive of the town introducing non-smoking bylaws more broadly.
There are currently 11 municipalities in Alberta that have gone smoke-free in indoor public places, including Airdrie, Jasper and Edmonton, and two municipalities (Calgary and Banff) that have set a date for this change to occur in the future.
Calgary had planned to go smoke free on July 1, 2008, and now plans to up that date to Jan. 1, 2007, with bars and restaurants with separate smoking rooms along with casinos and bingo halls given a one-year exemption.

Cutline: Raylene Kempin from Okotoks, who enjoyed a cigarette at the Bull Pen Pub on Friday afternoon, is against a proposed bylaw prohibiting smoking in all enclosed public places. Council will discuss the bylaw at its next meeting on Nov. 27. photo by Laurel Nadon

Unbelievable Victory

Oilfields - Residents indecisive on amalgamation

By Pamela Roth
staff reporter

Amalgamation has replaced the gas plant as the hot button topic in the communities of Black Diamond and Turner Valley.
More than 200 residents from Turner Valley and Black Diamond attended a public meeting last week at the Flare ‘n’ Derrick to voice their concerns and learn more about amalgamating the two towns.
The question and answer session lasted nearly two hours, with residents from both towns challenging the town councillors about the issue of amalgamating the two towns located only three kilometres apart.
“We are looking at something we are really gambling on,” said Turner Valley resident Mike King, who suggested looking at amalgamation maybe two to three years down the road instead of at present. “I think there are a lot of good things happening between the two towns right now, so I need to be convinced.”
Questions and concerns covered a wide range of topics from an increase in taxes, policing costs and current social programs, to economic development and potential benefits.
Turner Valley Coun. Dona Fluter pointed out the two towns already share a number of services, such as the sewage commission, the dog pound, a garbage truck and library, and that it only makes sense to eventually form one municipal government.
“We do share a lot of services already which is what prompted the idea in the first place,” said Fluter. “There will always be pros and cons to it. If amalgamation did take place down the road, it would take a year or so to bring services together. You are not going to see a lot of difference. The towns will continue to operate — both of them. It will streamline things; that is what it will do,” added Fluter.
A Black Diamond resident pushed the topic even further, asking if one town would have more of an advantage over the other from amalgamating. Other residents asked for more specific numbers in terms of financial benefits.
Turner Valley Coun. Barry Williamson was quick to respond to the comments and emphasized that the process is still in the early stages and concrete numbers won’t likely be available until after amalgamation takes place.
“At the end of the day, there will be savings. This has to be an advantage for everyone or it doesn’t work,” said Williamson. “The whole concept is you should not be disadvantaged by amalgamation. It’s got to be positive and it’s got to be rewarding to do it.”
The questions asked by the public at the open house were on par with those asked during a previous open house held in Black Diamond the week before. However, although pressed for their opinion, town councillors did not state whether or not they were in favour of amalgamating.
Once the question and answer period was completed, residents had the chance to discuss the ideas presented with their neighbours and councillors and write their comments down on paper.
“I’m still not sure. I need more specifics,” said Black Diamond resident Catherine McClay who attended both open houses. “I think it’s good they are looking at it, but I want more information.”
Turner Valley resident Dode Anderson and her husband shared similar feelings.
“I think it’s too early to make a decision,” said Anderson, who moved to the area four years ago. “I think it would be nice if it went through and improved the quality of life and made the town grow.”
Pat Power and Carol Hartholt, on the other hand, felt they already have all the information they need to make a decision. The pair, from Turner Valley, made it clear they are in favour of amalgamation, but, like other residents, expressed concern about the 75 per cent majority for a public plebiscite vote that was decided earlier by Black Diamond council.
“It’s (75 per cent majority) much too high,” said Hartholt. “All that’s not joined is the town administration and what’s the big deal about joining the offices?”
The last time amalgamation talks between the two towns took place was in 1989, however, Turner Valley council had no interest in pursuing the endeavour at that time. The subject re-surfaced last November when both councils began working together, along with Alberta Municipal Affairs to determine how exactly amalgamating the two towns would look.
Since then, a liaison committee has been formed with council representation from each town to further examine the matter.
The information collected from the open houses will be presented during the next amalgamation meeting Nov. 27. In addition to a public plebiscite vote that has not yet been set, two more open houses are expected to be held to get more direction from the public.

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Editorial Paul's Place News Sports Entertainment Classified Ads Foothills Visitor Guide Directory		Heartbreaking loss Homeowner questions fire department’s tactics • See News Taking a stand Residents oppose development proposal • See News