Smokers being told to butt out

By Blair Braitenbach
Staff Reporter

Getting a daily nicotine fix is going to be a lot more difficult with the passing of the Alberta government’s new province-wide smoking restrictions.
On Nov. 14 the provincial government approved Bill 45 which will enact a province-wide smoking ban in all public places (including bars and restaurants) and workplaces, effective Jan. 1, 2008. In addition, Bill 45, also known as the Tobacco Reduction Act, will prohibit smoking within five metres of a doorway, window or air intake of a public place or workplace.
Shannon Haggarty, Alberta Health and Wellness spokesperson, said the smoking bill still needs proclamation and some of the specific regulations are still being developed. However, she said these are regular processes and it is intended the first part of Bill 45 will be enacted into law by Jan. 1, 2008. Aside from improving the general health of the public, Haggarty explained the bill is an attempt to streamline smoking regulations.
“There were so many different patchworks of legislation, this is now across the board for the province,” Haggarty said.
The new regulations will come in three phases, with the second phase involving tobacco displays and signs, proposed to be effective July 1, 2008. Under the new regulations, tobacco products will no longer be able to be displayed or advertised in places they are sold. In addition, although signs listing the types of tobacco products will still be allowed, the style and impact they have will be minimized.
“There were some concerns obviously from businesses, be it where you can smoke, what signs can look like, any of those things. The minister (of Alberta Health and Wellness Dave Hancock) was well aware of that and…(he) took the time to meet with them (business owners),” Haggarty said.
“Second to that, that’s part of the reason there’s a phased-in approach…to allow businesses to look at this, get everything in order and move forward from there with the understanding of what’s required of them.”
The third phase of the bill, involving where tobacco can be sold, is planned for Jan. 1, 2009. Under this phase, tobacco products will no longer be sold in a health facility, the campus of a public post-secondary institution, a pharmacy or retail store connected to a pharmacy in some way.
All in all, Haggarty said the main objective is to improve Albertans’ health by reducing the opportunity to smoke, while at the same time virtually eliminating the public’s exposure to second-hand smoke.
“The bottom line for the Minister of Health and Wellness is this is about health, protecting the health of Albertans,” Haggarty said.
In terms of enforcement, Haggarty said if one is caught disobeying the new regulations or a complaint is called in to a police or peace officer detachment, a fine will likely be administered.
Approximately 3,400 Albertans die each year from tobacco related illness. With about $471 million in health care costs attributed to tobacco use, Hancock said it is anticipated those costs and deaths will decrease with the new regulations.
“We need to reduce smoking and the harmful effects of second hand smoke in our province,” Hancock said in a prepared statement.
With this new legislation, Alberta will join Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland who all have 100 per cent smoking bans in public places.