June brings with it the promise of fun, frolic and festivities in Canada, but this year June has caught smokers by surprise as the Ontario government put into effect a ban on smoking in public places on May 31.
TORONTO: June brings with it the promise of fun, frolic and festivities in Canada, but this year June has caught smokers by surprise as the Ontario government put into effect a ban on smoking in public places on May 31.
The ban aims at protecting the health of all Ontarians by prohibiting smoking in all enclosed workplaces and enclosed public places. The Smoke Free Ontario Act, as it is widely known, will also strengthen measures to ensure that only those 19 years of age and older can buy cigarettes and will phase out the display of tobacco products, with a complete ban beginning May 31, 2008.
The ban includes all indoor-smoking in public places such as restaurants, casinos, bars and bingo halls. But many are calling the government's move one filled with hypocrisy. "If politicians really cared about our health, they would ban the production of polluting vehicles with poor gas mileage. They could do so many things that would reflect a serious purpose, but banning tobacco — even from places where only smokers concentrate — is a little too farfetched," adds Nidhi Mehta, who is often seen taking a puff outside her Bay Street office in Downtown Toronto during break and lunch time.
As the ban went into effect, health promotion minister Jim Watson promised $50 million to ensure the smoking ban is implemented in the province. The money will pay for more than 100 enforcement officers, who will fan out across the province to enforce the new law.
The ban isn't going to well with young Ontarians like Rehan Moosa, a young restaurateur from Mississauga, "Young people start smoking because of peer pressure, not advertising. Educators have failed miserably in their attempts to convince young people not to smoke. I have personally asked many young people who come into my restaurant, through the years, why they started smoking. All said it was cool and their friends got them to smoke," he added.
Smokers are also scoffing at the government's hypocrisy in placing the smoking ban for governments take millions of dollars in tobacco taxes every year, adding it into general revenues, but not helping with medical costs related to smoking.
"If all these taxes were re-directed to hospitals, the provinces would not be struggling to finance and maintain our hospitals," adds Moosa.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}