A new city report could be paving the way for more restrictive regulation of smoking in shared outdoor spaces.
The report, prepared for the Community Services Committee, was requested last March by Councillor Amarjeet Sohi and provides a summary of laws and policies prohibiting smoking in 56 cities across the country.
"We don't allow smoking in pubs and bars, but we allow smoking in playgrounds which are used by kids," Sohi said. "I think there's a contradiction in our perceptions about health and what we think is best."
Of the cities surveyed for the report, 15 ban smoking on or near parklands, 16 ban smoking on playgrounds and 18 ban smoking on recreation fields.
Ontario and British Columbia currently lead the country in smoking restrictions - 28 cities in Ontario have bylaws in place restricting smoking in shared outdoor spaces, B.C. Has 14 cities with similar restrictions.
Among the restrictions described in the report:
*Vancouver prohibits smoking on or near parklands, walking trails, playgrounds, beaches or recreation fields (including golf courses)
*Toronto prohibits smoking within nine metres of playgrounds or wading pools
*Winnipeg prohibits smoking near youth sporting events and playgrounds
Currently City of Edmonton bylaws prohibit smoking within five metres of doorways, windows and air intakes, on patios related to a business, inside bus shelters and on LRT platforms.
The report was submitted for information only; significant public consultation would be need before any new bylaws could be put in place. City staff have been asked to report back in two months with recommendations about how regulations could be implemented.
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