Changes could be coming to the City of Moose Jaw’s smoking bylaw that would prohibit smoking or vaping in outdoor green spaces that the municipality owns.
Proposed revisions would also prohibit smoking or vaping in public commons areas, customer service areas, on outdoor patios or outdoor restaurants that provide food or alcoholic beverages.
During its executive committee meeting on March 25, Moose Jaw city council voted 6-1 in favour of the proposed amendments to the smoking bylaw. Coun. Brian Swanson was opposed.
The next step will see city administration consult with the public on the proposed changes. This would include speaking with owners of bars and restaurants who have outdoor patios. Once consultations are completed, administration expects to have a new bylaw prepared for the second meeting in April. The bylaw would then go into effect in June if council approves it.
The proposed amendments that city administration has suggested include:
• Prohibiting smoking and vaping on outdoor seating areas of restaurants, bars and similar establishments
• Prohibiting smoking in all city-owned outdoor public spaces such as playgrounds, parks and sports fields, including during public events
• Preventing smoking and vaping within a 10-metre buffer zone of entrances, windows and air exchanges of public buildings
• Banning vaping in enclosed public places where smoking is prohibited under The Tobacco Control Act
• Providing an exemption consistent with The Tobacco Control Act for tobacco products used in outdoor traditional spiritual and cultural ceremonies
• Providing an exemption for teaching and testing devices in a vape retail store
• Writing definitions into the bylaw of what constitutes smoking beyond tobacco products
City council had considered an amendment to the smoking bylaw in 2017, which would have expanded the ban against other types of smoking, Tracy Wittke, assistant city clerk, explained during the March 25 meeting. The prohibition would have included e-cigarettes (vaping), cannabis and hookah pipes. However, that amendment was delayed until provincial and federal legislation was in place to handle recreational cannabis.
With recreational cannabis now legal, city administration is recommending that the smoking bylaw include banning cannabis and vaping in public areas, Wittke added.
Public notice will be given once the amendments have been completed, allowing residents to comment on the proposed changes. Those comments will then be forwarded to city council.
Coun. Dawn Luhning noted she would have preferred to make the bylaw amendments official that evening. She would have brought forward the motion even without the need for public consultations.
Public consultations are important, said Coun. Chris Warren. He believes residents should have the opportunity to voice their concerns about this initiative.
Even though there is not much evidence yet to show how detrimental vaping is to human health, it’s likely just as bad as tobacco, said Coun. Crystal Froese, whose mother died from tobacco use.
Froese wanted to see vaping displays banned, particularly at gas stations and convenience stores. With vape products given flavours of bacon and candy, it’s obvious companies are marketing their products toward youths.
Besides viewing the bylaw amendments at city hall, residents can speak to it during city council’s meeting in late April.
