Smoke and Vape Free Bylaw Moves Forward
The bylaw was first suggested in August of last year, but since then, the Province has added “vaping” to its smoking regulations making it subject to the same rules and regulations for smoking.
Since the Provincial legislation calls for a buffer of 6 metres from windows, doors and air intakes on buildings, the City has peeled back it’s original plan to put a 9 meter buffer in place. Instead, the City of Prince George will stick with the Provincial legislation and the buffer will be a minimum of 6 metres.
In Prince George, the consultation leading up to the development of the bylaw received 584 responses to a survey. While 70% of those who responded were in favour of the bylaw when it comes to enhancing smoke free zones, that percentage of support dwindled somewhat when it came to adding “vaping” to the smoke free zone.
The City’s bylaw would also ban smoking and vaping from all parks, playgrounds civic facilities and sport fields.
There is a cost to implementing the bylaw as it’s estimated some $68 thousand dollars worth of signs will have to be installed throughout the City. As far as enforcement goes, there won’t be any additional bylaw enforcement staff added. Some research from Ontario suggest communities that have already implemented no smoking/vaping bylaws indicates public education and self regulation were cited as being the most used forms of enforcement.
Council will also be asking the Province to take action to ban smoking or vaping from all restaurant and bar patios, playgrounds parks and beaches. As well, Council is calling on the Province to legislate guidelines for smoking on post secondary campuses.
Council has approved holding a public meeting on the bylaw on December 5th and it will be conducted in the same manner as a rezoning hearing where the public can make submissions.
Comments
Well I see its time for another change of city council, next election.
What a waste of our money.
I agree
a bylaw with no teeth, just like the last one
Good to see! If people want to fill their bodies with all sorts of unknown (and potentially harmful) substances they should have to do so in the privacy of their own home. Ban them from public spaces completely!
And of course who is going to be monitoring this??? Please don’t tell me this will be another job for the police to do like they don’t already have enough on their hands. Will it be city officials??? Generally speaking they are only at high profile functions where their faces are seen by other “important people”. Will it be city workers that being the ones leaning on a shovel having a cigt while contemplating what to do next.
The whole idea is stupid. Yes I agree stay away from building doors, yes I agree stay away from people in a park while you are smoking but if you are way off to the sidelines sorry no worse that the person who leaves the diesel truck running with those fumes.
Be considerate of other people if you are a smoker, by the way I am, and would not ever think of imposing my habit on others but let us not be so stupid as to ever think this can be policed or that you will ever stop someone from doing it
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