Smoking bylaw related motion coming forward
A 2019 motion to consider whether the city should ban ‘smoking or vaping for all workplaces, including all outdoor spaces at all workplaces’ could be up in smoke as early as next week.
A new motion not to amend the bylaw is coming to a council committee.
Staff report that changing the bylaw could result in people smoking on sidewalks or next to active lanes of traffic, while pedestrians may have to walk through the smoke, too.
“Both consequences of the increased prohibition would put workers at risk (smoking close to live traffic) as well as the public using sidewalks in the area at risk (for added exposure to smoke/not giving the public a choice to avoid the smoke),” states a report.
It also says an online survey in 2019 garnered minimal responses.
Of the 43 responses, only five supported additional restrictions while half were strongly opposed to any further restrictions.
Richard Coffin has been a reporter and news anchor on the radio in North Bay for over 25 years. From premiers to people in the neighbourhood, he enjoys connecting with newsmakers and writing stories that matter to area listeners on a variety of topics including healthcare, education, politics, sports and more.
