No Smoking /Vaping Bylaw Survey Drawing Response
Prince George, B.C. – There are only a couple of days left to take the survey on the proposed expanded no-smoking / vaping bylaw for Prince George.
The survey will only be available until Sunday, November 15th. Chris Bone, Manager of Social Planning says this public consultation process has been very productive “Over 500 people have completed the online survey and I think that’s due in large part to our efforts to do really good outreach.”
Bone says the proposed bylaw was included as part of the discussion during the TalkTober neighbourhood conversations, it was front and centre at a Cougars hockey game, there was door to door canvassing in the downtown area by nursing students “We really made a huge effort to encourage people to participate and I think that made a difference” says Bone.
She says the survey demographics are already mirroring the smoking/ non smoking population of Prince George “We know that 78% of the population of Prince George are non smokers and we’ve had about 80% of non-smokers respond to our survey and about 20% smokers.” There’s also been a good cross section of age groups as well, “We had the bulk of respondents in the age group 25 to 54, but we’ve also had representation from younger and older age groups. So in terms of outreach to the community, we feel our survey achieved that.”
The bylaw would extend non smoking areas throughout the City with emphasis on parks, sports fields, outdoor restaurant/lounge patios and any other place where the public may gather. While the data has yet to be fully analyzed, Bone says the anecdotal information is that the proposed bylaw is supported “People are generally in favour of the bylaw and if they had any areas of concern , again anecdotally, it’s about enforcement.”
Bone says because the bylaw would prohibit smoking and vaping in a number of locations, there have been questions about the resources available to enforce such a bylaw.
Once the survey closes, it will take about a month to analyze all the data, says Bone then possible revisions to the bylaw will be sent for a full legal review during the month of December. It is expected the revised bylaw would be brought back to City Council for review and final approval early in the New Year. If Council gives it a thumbs up, the bylaw would then be sent to the Ministry of Health for review before it would be signed into law.
Comments
Lame survey designed to get the approval of those promoting the bylaw. Leading questions that leave very little room for interpretation other than that which it is designed to illicit.
The survey should be viewed as nothing more than a PR gimmick with little actual scientific merit or open public input.
I am not a smoker, and I don’t think this bylaw is the answer. Its more about imposing someones will through laws and regulations, than any actual progress. I think outlawing smoking from open public spaces like parks only drives the smoker indoors where more harm is done to the neighbors and families of smokers.
When we are talking about the outdoors I would be more concerned with the exhaust from some of the diesel pickup trucks in town, more than that of a two inch burning piece of tobacco. Or pallet plants, and wood stoves, and bio plants right in the center of town. A little bit of smoke with a lot of fresh air isn’t going to hurt anyone.
The city doesn’t enforce the present bylaw , why should I think they will enforce the new one?
“The city doesn’t enforce the present bylaw, why should I think they will enforce the new one? “.
They can’t and they won’t. The city of PG just loves to come up with reasons to change or hang new signs. And of course, try to justify some highly paid useless azzes.
Is it possible to add a link to where this survey is? This is the first I’ve heard of this survey and I have no idea where to go to complete it.
Thanks.
Dear City Council,
We hired you to run the city, not peoples lives.
I am not a smoker but quite frankly could care less if the person beside me is vaping. Live and let live.
Regards,
only2c
Strange uh… here they are almost banning smoking of any sort but yet encouraging drinking in public, ie all the events are pretty well serving liquor.. Think City Hall needs to rethink what they are there for.
Lets “clear the air” here: within the confines of the bowl we have an oil refinery, pulpmills, a railyard, the BCR industrial site, another railyard, wood stoves, a vast number of diesel vehicles with bypassed emissions controls and 2 substantial chemical manufacturers. So how is restricting tobacco use going to make PG a healthier place to live?
Go ahead and add another law to the books. It will have as much effect as the cell phone law for drivers. No enforcement. Waste your time on better issues please.
Yes R5t5e4m6c on the first line of this editorial the words take this survey are high lighted in [green] just click on them and it will take you right to survey
Frankly, I don’t care if people smoke. It is their body, they have the information on how bad it is. They have access to stop smoking. Just think they need to be at least 20 feet from the door way. Its a good thing their poor choice is killing them.
When I have friends over, they smoke on the sundeck. I smile at them and say thank you, for paying your taxes twice. Some laugh, some don’t.
Dear City Council,
We hired you to run the city, not peoples lives.
I am not a smoker but quite frankly could care less if the person beside me is vaping. Live and let live.
Regards,
only2c
——————
May of us DO absolutely care if the person beside us is vaping and/or smoking. Many of us are disgusted by it and don’t want any of those chemicals anywhere near us. Unfortunately many smokers/vapers think it is their god given right to do whatever they want, wherever they want with little consideration for others. It is for these people that Councils have to pass by-laws such as these. I have, on many occasions, politely asked smokers/vapers to refrain from their activity in public places with children in the immediate, clearly in contravention to existing laws, area only to be met with that “how dare you” response, or worse.
I get sick from second hand smoke, BUT we do not need anymore by-laws. Right now we seem to be harder on the smoker than the open use of drugs. The majority of smokers are polite when I explain my problem, a few get upset but I think it because they are having fewer and fewer places to smoke.
Go ahead pass your law, your going to no matter what we say, but you can expect to sell 100 to 150 less seats at your CN center, depending on the event.
Yet there has been more altercations at the CN center since you allowed the sale of booze.
But that’s ok because someone is making a profit.
Dear City Council,
We hired you to run the city, not peoples lives.
I am not a smoker but quite frankly could care less if the person beside me is vaping. Live and let live.
Regards,
only2c
——————
May of us DO absolutely care if the person beside us is vaping and/or smoking. Many of us are disgusted by it and don’t want any of those chemicals anywhere near us. Unfortunately many smokers/vapers think it is their god given right to do whatever they want, wherever they want with little consideration for others. It is for these people that Councils have to pass by-laws such as these. I have, on many occasions, politely asked smokers/vapers to refrain from their activity in public places with children in the immediate, clearly in contravention to existing laws, area only to be met with that “how dare you” response, or worse.
——–
If this is the worst of the problems around here then life is pretty good. I have found most smokers and vapors very respectful, even to the point where I am taking a ride in their vehicle and they ask if I mind if they smoke.
Different perspectives from different experiences I guess.
This is funny, yet people run beside traffic all day breathing that second hand exhaust in, which probably does more damage to their lungs than anything else.
Yes, I smoke. As a wee small bairn home from the hospital, I breathed in second hand smoke until I left home, hence the addiction.
I am very respectful of others, you won’t find a butt in my yard or out my vehicle window, but there are lots who, well, don’t think.
A few years ago, during an inquest, a forensic pathologist stated there was no difference between a smokers lungs and a person who lived in Prince George for 8 years.
Yes, I think Eagleone got it right, very biased, and pushed by a special interest group, similar to those folks who wanted a performing arts center.
Just hope all the folks who commented on here completed the survey.
Or perhaps the Mayor could revise the questions to ensure fairness and do one that is not biased.
@He Spoke 9 meters is 30 feet not 20. How long is your deck? They probably will be on the lawn. And that is not just doorways but any opening window or air intake.
We measured it at Spruceland mall one morning and smokers have to be on the yellow line of the road or further if the bylaw comes into effect. There is only one set of doorways where it is 60 feet or greater between the two for smokers to gather on the sidewalk, guess they will all be in a circle there.
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