No more smoking on the sidelines?

The Town of Windsor is considering a bylaw to ward away secondhand smoke.

With a vote of 3-2, Council approved first reading of the Protection from Secondhand Smoke Bylaw. The matter will go to second reading at the November 24 council meeting. If passed, no one will be permitted to smoke on any property owned or leased by the Town. This includes all town parks, playgrounds, recreational facilities, trails and building lands.

Windsor’s chief administrative officer Louis Coutinho says the bylaw is not about trying to fine people, but about educating people in a healthier community. “Secondhand smoke is a health hazard.”

Still, those caught violating this bylaw could be subject to a fine of up to $200.

Some may think this bylaw is an unfair inconvenience to staff of the Town, Coutinho says. “I hope it’s so inconvenient they quit. If our staff are healthier it’s a good thing.”

Councillor Liz Galbraith opposed the first reading of the bylaw. She said at the meeting she could not support it because she didn’t think it was necessary. “People who smoke already know not to smoke around children. Plus, I don’t see how this will be enforceable.

“The bylaw officer would have to be present to catch people smoking and I’d hate to see it a matter of the town posting signs everywhere,” Galbraith noted. “Therefore, I do not think the town needs to spend the time making a bylaw they cannot enforce.”

Contentious law

Smoking is a contentious issue and has been for a long time, she said. It is important to look at the objective of this bylaw and what it attempts to address, Galbraith continued. “I’d want to know where the movement to create this bylaw even stemmed from because, it has not come from the public. (Council) has not been asked by the public to do this.”

It might be the right thing to do but it’s for the wrong reasons because a role for any municipal council is to represent the wishes of the public and not its own, Galbraith noted. “Plus, when people come to Windsor I think it should be a place with signs to eat, shop and make tourists feel welcomed … not saying don’t do this; don’t do that.”

Councillor John Bregante, who supported the bylaw, said he suffers from asthma because of his father’s severe smoking. “I think if we can get one or two people to stop smoking with this bylaw, we are moving in the right direction

“Kids are the future; we have got to ensure that we’re living in a health environment for them,” Bregante added. “Even if, it might have an impact on simply a few people.”

Leadership issue

Mayor Paul Beazley said the ban Windsor should take a leadership role on and lead by example. “With a bylaw that starts in our own home (on town property.)”

This type of bylaw is quite common and addresses health concerns, Beazley said. “It is meant to set an example and make people aware (of secondhand smoke effects.)”

There will likely be a long period of educating by the enforcement officer before this bylaw is enforced, Beazley added. “This is more about health than enforcement.”

Support is there, he continued. “(People I’ve spoke to) they all said it is the right thing to do.”