Smoking ban urged for condos & apartments
Peel's top public health officials are lobbying to ban smoking from apartments and condos in an effort to limit second-hand smoke inhalation.
If their push is successful, apartment dwellers would not be able to smoke in their own homes.
The region's council is going to examine a report co-authored by Commissioner of Health Services Janette Smith, and Dr. David Mowat, Peel's medical officer of health.
Their report says that Peel Public Health has received complaints from apartment tenants about smoke seeping into their homes.
"Tobacco smoke can seep from various openings in a multi-unit dwelling, including electrical outlets, plumbing, ductwork, ceiling light fixtures, cracks in wall, floors or doors and through common areas, such as hallways," wrote Smith and Mowat in the report. "Some units may share ventilation or heating systems, which can further spread the smoke throughout a building."
Their findings prompted an investigation into whether the city has the authority to ban smoking inside apartments.
Under the Municipal Act of 2001, Peel can invoke a bylaw preventing tenants from smoking, but Smith and Mowat suggest the best route would be to persuade Queen's Park to enact a province-wide ban.
...
etc.
If you think the anti-smoking crusade in the states is bad you haven't been to Ontario recently.
(Interesting reader comments too, by the way. Reminiscent of the implacable positions taken in the abortion "debate".)
PS BTW, I love Toronto & Ontario -- just not crazy about the power the anti-smoking crusaders have here, which is considerable.
-Moliere
