ONTARIO: New smoking restrictions in effect starting today
Digital Reporter
Thursday, January 1, 2015, 9:18 AM - If your New Year's resolution is to quit smoking, Ontario's new law might help make that transition a little easier.
Starting today, smokers across Ontario will no longer be allowed to light up on bar, restaurant patios, playgrounds, and sports fields.
The Ontario government says it made changes to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act to "protect children and youth from the harmful effects of smoking."
The new regulation also prohibits the selling of tobacco products on university and college campuses across the province.
“Creating smoke-free outdoor spaces and patios not only protects the public and workers from second-hand smoke but also reduces social exposure to smoking behaviour,” said Canadian Cancer Society Public Affairs Vice-President Rowena Pinto in a media release.
The regulation even goes so far as to say hotels, motels and inns are not a “residential location” and are not exempt.
Health officials are confident the new restrictions won't hurt businesses across Ontario.
“When we first introduced a ban on smoking inside restaurants and bars, there was a lot of concern raised that it would throw restaurants and bars out of business, but the evidence shows that did not happen,” Associate Health Minister Dipika Dameria told Global News.
SEE ALSO: Six things you may not have known (or considered) about e-cigarettes
New #Ontario #tobacco law also bans smoking on all bar and restaurant patios. Flavoured tobacco prohibited, use of #ecigarettes restricted.
— CBC News Alerts (@CBCAlerts) November 24, 2014
Veterans, however, get somewhat of a pass. Canadian Legions that built patios prior to November 18, 2013 will be exempt.
CONSEQUENCES OF BREAKING THE LAW
Corporations that break the current law banning indoor smoking can be charged $100,000 the first time and $300,000 for any subsequent violations.
Individuals who smoke illegally inside already face fines that range from $1,000 to $5,000 for repeat offenses, but the consequences for lighting up in prohibited spaces outside won’t be so dire: $250 for smoking near a playground (or a hospital, as the current law dictates) and $300 for selling tobacco on a campus.
For more information on the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy, click here.
What do you think about the new restrictions? Let us know in the comments below.
