Edmonton city council was expected to pass a bylaw Wednesday that would make it illegal to smoke within ten metres of playgrounds, sports fields and other outdoor areas where children are present. However, that bylaw did not pass.
The first and second reading of the expanded bylaw did take place. The third reading did not happen because one councillor voted against it.
Kerry Diotte was the lone councillor voting against the bylaw saying it is not needed.
"It's a waste of time and money, and we're going to spend 75 thousand dollars on a public education campaign for a bylaw that even our administration says cannot be enforced?" Diotte questions.
He says it is socially unacceptable and against common sense to smoke around children so a bylaw is not needed.
"It's the thin edge of the wedge," Diotte points out adding, "They've exempted something like golf courses now, made a point to do that, but how soon will that come in?"
Councillor Amarjeet Sohi defends the bylaw.
"What's the harm? Who is being negatively impacted by the passage of this bylaw? No one," Sohi says.
"I don't want to be critical of another councillor's right to vote against something but when you see something going down 12 to one I don't understand why you'd stop it at that point," says councillor Dave Loken.
"It's about kids, it's about protecting children from second hand smoke," Loken urges.
Diotte says he knows the bylaw will come into effect eventually but defends his vote.
"I don't want to be connected to a bylaw I don't believe in," he stresses.
In the third reading of a bylaw there must be unanimous consent even if a councillor is against it.
In the end, the bylaw will most likely pass. The law was meant to be put into place April 1 but with Wednesday's outcome it will be delayed. The bylaw will be back in front of city council at the beginning of April.
With files from Vinesh Pratap.
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