FRANCAIS

August 25, 2003

An all-party task force examining the issues of environmental tobacco smoke has released its schedule of public hearings which will resume Sept. 9, committee chair Stan Struthers, MLA for Dauphin-Roblin, announced today.

"The issue of smoking in public places requires the input of as many Manitobans as possible," said Struthers, who is also legislative assistant to the minister of health. "We believe this committee, comprising members from all parties, will be able to produce concrete recommendations that can help us formulate future policy regarding this very real health problem."

Struthers noted public input and the Fox-Decent report recommendations on smoking in the workplace will help form the foundation of a new provincial policy on environmental tobacco smoke. The public will be asked to respond to the Fox-Decent report which calls for a phased-in ban on smoking in the workplace.

As well as public hearings, the committee will also accept written submissions and will analyse policies aimed at reducing exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. The task force will:

• study the facts surrounding the impact of tobacco smoke;
• take into account diverse opinions on the issue;
• gather information on the impact of measures to reduce environmental tobacco, including the recommendations of the Advisory Council on Workplace Safety and Health; and
• produce a public report with recommendations on how best to ensure Manitobans are adequately protected from environmental tobacco smoke.

When at all possible, the seven-member committee will work on a consensus basis and is expected to report to government in time for its views to be reflected in policy to be articulated in the next speech from the throne.

Written submissions can be sent to the All-party Task Force on Environmental Tobacco Smoke, c/o Stan Struthers, chair, Room 155, Legislative Building, Winnipeg, MB R3C 0V8. Further information is available at: http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/taskforce.html

To register to make a presentation to the all-party task force, the public can call the following toll-free number: 1-866-292-9370.

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