sweeping smoking ban in British Columbia
The B.C. government has introduced new legislation thT WILL BAN SmOkING IN ALL INDOOR PUBLIC spaces and take aim at how tobacco products are marketed and sold.
Health Minister George Abbott introduced the bill in the legislature on Tuesday
" This amendment bans smoking in restuarants, pubs and private clubs, offices, malls, conference centres, sports arenas, community halls, government buildings and schools" he said
It will also be illegal for smoker to light-up in a public doorway, or near windows and air intakes-to protact indoor air quality
The bill will ban smoking in schools and on school grounds this September; in other places, it takes eefect next year.
The new legislation also allows regulations that would ban outdoor advertising of tobacco products, and limit the display and promotion of cigarettes inside stores.
Abbott said that means cigarettes may have to kept out of sight in B.C. stores at some point in the future.
"that will be determined by regulation, but my expectation is that the racks of cigarettes will actually be behind a plain covered surface, So there won't be the advertising, there win't be the cigarette packs sitting out in the open," said the minister
Abbott said B.C. is not yet ready to ban smoking altogether. But he says the government is determined to fight smoking and discourage young people from taking up the habit.