Grey sends smoking bylaw back

A proposal to ban smoking in local playgrounds and parks, on beaches, on patios where food or drink is sold and other outdoor areas is being sent back to the Grey Bruce Health Unit for reconsideration.

The resolution to expand smoking bans throughout Grey-Bruce, adopted by the board of health at a meeting in August, immediately ran into questions and concerns when it was brought before Grey Country council on Tuesday.

"It is going to be controversial for sure," Chatsworth Mayor Bob Pringle said as he presented the board of health minutes to council.

His deputy-mayor, Terry McKay, said the legion in Chatsworth "abided by the local bylaw" when it first outlawed smoking in the branch.

The ban "was going to bring in troves of people. It never did," he said. "If anything, our membership has declined."

The legion and others went to the expense of building a licensed patio and now they face the possibility of such facilities being closed.

Keep in mind the contributions legions make to the community when considering a bylaw to expand no-smoking areas, McKay said.

Georgian Bluffs council has already discussed the board of health proposal, Mayor Alan Barfoot said.

"Our opinion is we'd like to see at the county level if it has full support . . . before we take it to the lower tiers," he said. "Let's get it together and then let's take it forward united on behalf of the county . . . or modify it or do whatever we want to it. But right now it just seems like its frightening and that's why our council did not comment on it yet until the direction we see it going in Grey and Bruce counties."

Warden Arlene Wright said she supported the proposal at the board of health meeting because of the number of complaints that came into the health unit, particularly about people smoking at soccer fields when children were playing.

However, she added, "I don't think this is something you can just have an outright ban at all these public places because you'd never ever be able to enforce it or police it and I know each municipality is going to have a lot of trouble trying to deal with it."

West Grey council also discussed the board of health resolution, Deputy-mayor John Bell said, and they decided "it needs to be a countywide initiative."

The strongest voice of support for the resolution came from Meaford Deputy-mayor Harley Greenfield, who congratulated the board of health for "having the wisdom and maybe the intestinal fortitude" for bringing the measure forward.

The board of health resolution, noting among other things the danger of second-hand smoke and that tobacco use sets an "unhealthy example for the children of our community," called on the counties of Grey and Bruce "to develop a bylaw banning smoking: