FRANCAIS

November 10, 2003

The all-party task force examining the issues of environmental tobacco smoke reached a formal agreement today on the recommendations it is making to the provincial government, committee chair Conservation Minister Stan Struthers has announced.

The responsibility to regulate smoking has been held primarily by municipal governments but recent successful action against the Workers Compensation Board in Ontario points to a need for a provincial policy, Struthers said.

All three political parties which were represented at the meeting unanimously approved six recommendations that would result in a provincewide smoking ban affecting all enclosed public places and indoor workplaces be introduced starting Oct. 1, 2004.

"Through a series of public hearings and written submissions, a consensus has emerged that a provincewide smoking ban is the next step in the efforts to protect Manitobans from the harmful effects of environmental tobacco smoke," Struthers said. "However, the experience of some business owners with smoking bans is a loss of income. We want to work with these organizations to ensure as little impact as possible and a smooth enforcement process."

Struthers released the six recommendations:

• that the provincial government enact legislation calling for a complete ban of smoking in all enclosed public places and indoor workplaces where the provincial government has clear jurisdiction;
• that the legislation come into effect Oct. 1, 2004 and that a public education campaign precede the implementation date;
• that the provincial government instruct the Department of Health to consult with the Advisory Council on Workplace Safety and Health in order to develop the legislation which would deal with definitions and enforcement procedures for use in all enclosed public places and indoor workplaces;
• that the provincial government continue to provide appropriate resources to support education, prevention and cessation initiatives, especially those targeted at youth, as part of a comprehensive approach to tobacco control;
• that the provincial government work closely with the hospitality industry to develop strategies for addressing the anticipated negative economic impacts resulting from a provincewide smoking ban; and
• that the ceremonial use of tobacco be exempted from the provincewide ban and that the Aboriginal community be consulted on an appropriate definition of ceremonial use.

The committee made its recommendations after holding 13 meetings in 12 communities and hearing 115 oral presentations. Among the presentations, the committee heard from doctors, representatives of the hospitality industry, Royal Canadian legions, chambers of commerce, the Manitoba Lung Association and private citizens. The committee also received 110 written submissions through the mail and via the Internet.

As well, the committee used recommendations from the Advisory Council on Workplace Safety and Health as a foundation of its recommendations. In an unprecedented decision in late 2002, the Ontario Workers Compensation Board accepted a claim that environmental smoke caused a woman’s lung cancer and awarded her compensation.

Along with Struthers, committee members from the governing party who attended today’s meeting were Water Stewardship Minister Steve Ashton, Industry, Economic Development and Mines Minister Scott Smith and Healthy Living Minister Jim Rondeau.

The official Opposition was represented by Denis Rocan, MLA for Carman.

The Liberals were represented by Kevin Lamoureux, MLA for Inkster.

"I congratulate committee members for working tirelessly to make good on our ambitious goal of making recommendations to government by the fall," Struthers said.

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