CANADA, 11/7/05-- Last week, the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly gave Third Reading and final approval to the Smoke-free Places Act. The bill, which requires all workplaces (including restaurants and bars) to be smokefree, had all-party support.
Nova Scotia thus becomes Canada's ninth smokefree province/territory (out of thirteen total). Note that the laws in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland also extend to the outdoor areas of bars and restaurants. Here is a list all nine smokefree provinces/territories (with implementation dates):
1. Northwest Territories (May 1, 2004)
2. Nunavut Territory (May 1, 2004)
3. New Brunswick (Oct. 1, 2004)
4. Manitoba (Oct. 1, 2004)
5. Saskatchewan (Jan. 1, 2005)
6. Newfoundland and Labrador (July 1, 2005)
7. Ontario (May 31, 2006)
8. Quebec (May 31, 2006)
9. Nova Scotia (Dec. 1, 2006)
Canada's remaining four provinces/territories have weaker smokefree workplace laws as follows:
British Columbia - (smokefree, except in designated smoking rooms)
P.E.I. - (smokefree, except in designated smoking rooms)
Alberta - (smokefree where kids are allowed, effective Jan. 1, 2006)
Yukon - (no law currently exists; the Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board is considering a territorial standard)
Canada Tobacco Map
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Kingston, Canada: After months of contentious debate, city council has given final approval to a citywide smoking ban that comes into effect May 1 (2003) and encompasses all public places except bingo halls.
NIAGARA FALLS: The Best Western Fallsview Hotel will become a non-smoking hotel. It will be the first Ontario hotel in the Best Western chain and the first hotel in Niagara Falls to offer a completely smoke-free environment.
Fredericton - New Brunswick's capital city has taken the provincial lead by banning smoking in all eating and drinking spots, bingo halls and pool parlours. Fredericton's smoke-free zone goes into effect July 1, 2003 but smoking will still be permitted at outdoor cafes during the summer months.
Halifax Regional Municipality: The act has to go into effect January 1, 2003. The new act is supposed to limit smoking in restaurants and bars to separately ventilated smoking rooms. Bar smokers will be free to roam outside their cages after 9 p.m.
Canada: Starting April 1, 2003, Yellowknifers won't be allowed to smoke in restaurants, recreation facilities, clubs, and licensed dining rooms.
Anti-smoking bylaws in Winnipeg, Man., and St. John's, Nfld., came into effect Jan. 1, 2002. They ban smoking in any indoor location where minors are present. Some coffee shops and restaurants got around the bylaw by banning children.
The City of Ottawa (and Waterloo, Ontario) rolled out a complete ban on smoking in bars and restaurants last year, despite howls of protest by bar owners who saw patrons head across the Quebec border. Toronto has pledged to follow Ottawa's lead in 2004.
The toughest anti-smoking bylaw in the country came into effect Jan. 1, passed by the Northwestern (Ontario) Health Unit. The medical officer of health responsible for the region took it upon himself to ban smoking in all public places and private businesses, saying that second-hand smoke is a health hazard to employees in a workplace. Enacted under Ontario's Health Protection and Promotion Act, the ban will force all indoor workplaces and public places to become smoke-free. Chambers of commerce in the region, waiting for the first business to be charged, are girding for a court challenge to the health unit.
Only Nova Scotia and British Columbia have enacted provincial anti-smoking legislation.
Fort Frances, Ontario. KENORA: - Sweeping anti-smoking rules set to come into effect in northern Ontario are causing controversy in some communities. As of Jan. 1, 2003, smoking will be illegal in all public places and private businesses. Fines for breaking the rules range from $5 to $25,000 a day.
Nova Scotia makes tobacco possession for teens illegal, 1/1/03.
On Dec. 31, 2002, Saskatchewan adopted legislation requiring bingo parlours, bars, casinos, restaurants and bowling alleys to designate 40 per cent of space as non-smoking. The requirement will increase to 60 per cent by next year.
The Prince Edward Island government says its Smoke-Free Places Act will take effect June 1, 2003.
Camrose, Alberta. Starting July 1, 2003, smoking will not be allowed in any public premises except lounges, taverns, and gaming establishments.
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan -- In February, 2004, smoking in public places will be illegal.
Edmonton: Spruce Grove will ban smoking in public places open to minors, starting in December, 2003.
Ontario: Grey and Bruce Counties. The big towns are Owen Sound, Wiarton, and Walkerton, Ontario.
IQALUIT - Illegal to have a cigarette with your beer in a Nunavut's licenced bar and all workplaces in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, May 1, 2004.
Toronto: Starting June 1, 2004 the only public place remaining to light up a cigarette will be in the 185 city-sanctioned smoking rooms dotted across Toronto.
On June 1, 2004, bars, casinos, billiard and bingo halls, race tracks, night clubs and adult entertainment lounges in Toronto, York and Peel become smoke-free. In Durham, all public places and workplaces become smoke-free on June 1.
AUSTRALIA
Smoking banned in airports, government offices, health clinics and workplaces. Restaurants and shopping centres in most states are also smoke-free
CUBA
Smoking was banned on public transport, in shops and other enclosed spaces on February 7
FRANCE
Attempted to cut smoking levels by raising the price of cigarettes by 20 per cent in October 2003
IRELAND
Brought in anti-smoking legislation in 2004. Anyone caught smoking in a prohibited location faces a fine of up to £2,000
ITALY
Imposed a ban on smoking in enclosed public places in January. Businesses can be fined up to £1,395 and individualo smokers £191 for repeatedly ignoring the rules
UK
After resisting calls to ban smoking in the workplace, the Government now favours a ban in almost all enclosed public areas. Scotland plans a comprehensive ban on smoking in public places by spring 2006
IRAN
Banned smoking in public buildings and tobacco advertising in October 2003. Despite this, the ban is largely ignored and laws rarely enforced
UNITED STATES
Many cities and states are considering bans on smoking. California has some of the toughest anti-smoking laws in the world. In New York, smoking has been banned in bars, clubs and restaurants since March 2003
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