Butt Out of Our Bylaw

So you think that Winnipeg's new smoke-free bylaw will keep indoor areas free of smoke. Dream on! Find out what is written between the lines or rather what is not written at all.

Originally, this article was going to be published in January 2002, and then July 1, 2003, Canada Day, our national birthday, the day when the City of Winnipeg was going to implement the controversial NO SMOKING bylaw. The City keeps changing the date of implementation, and I keep changing the publication date.

So September 1 is the day when the new "no smoking in public places" bylaw finally came into effect, and that includes lounges and casinos. It does, however, exclude places which are supposed to promote health, like hospitals and nursing homes.

I am all for no-smoking, because I am unable to breathe when there is even a tobacco plant around, even when it isn't lit, but I am not happy with the way that the we are going about the enforcement of health standards, and neither are too many other people.

Here is an article which I wrote in January 2002. I was hoping for the problems to correct themselves, but unfortunately, they seem to be getting worse.

So the problem presented in this article are still with us. The article has already brought a lot of email from around the country, and some people have posted in the discussion. Many of them point out that health is a provincial matter, not a civic one, so it should be dealt with at the provincial level.

Here now the original article:

New Bylaw to Start the Year 2002

January 1 was the first day for the new non-smoking bylaw of the City of Winnipeg, and the Manitoba government has agreed to support its enforcement. The bylaw stipulates that no one can smoke in an enclosed area in which children under 18 years of age are allowed.

Wonderful law, right? I am ecstatic, right?

Wrong! I am upset. Never mind upset. I am angry, and I get angry less than once in a blue moon.

The Scenario

From January 10 to 26, many entertainment venues in the city hosted the "Brecht Fest 2002." I had bought the pass for the season and received one coupon for every venue along with a booklet outlining the shows. I looked over the booklet to make reservations for tickets, and what did I find? Three of the shows warned that there would be smoking on the stage.