A 615-name petition failed to convince city council to take a second look at a ban smoking and vaping during hockey games, concerts and other public events on city property.
Accompanied by a letter from Dane Greenwell, the petition was included in the correspondence section of the agenda for Monday night's meeting and making good on a promise to Greenwell, Coun.Terri McConnachie pulled the item for discussion.
Greenwell maintains the public consultation conducted in advance of council's December 2016 approval of a city bylaw on the matter was flawed, noting the opinions of only 584 people were gathered.
Greenwell said he and two others collected the names over a similar period, "working in snowy and rainy conditions for most of the time," while also keeping a certain distance away from CN Centre.
Noting he is a non-smoker, Greenwell said he is not a proponent of the habit "but I am a voice for the rights of all people."
He said council went above and beyond the guidelines the provincial government put it place when it chose to no longer provide designate an area for smoking and vaping at public events.
At CN Centre, it means those who go outside for a smoke while attending a hockey game or concert can no longer get back in - although the same applies to non-smokers during ticketed events.
(CN Centre manager Glen Mikkelson confirmed as much Thursday but added staff will work with patrons depending on the situation.
"For example, if someone left their diabetic equipment in their car, Guest Services may escort that person to the car and back" he said. "We want to make peoples' experiences positive ones.")
McConnachie went on to ask fellow council members for their opinions, prompting city manager Kathleen Soltis to say the consultation was in fact "very robust" and included a public hearing, although one was not mandatory. Turnout was small and all who spoke to council were in favour of the bylaw, she said.
Staff will likely recommend the same restriction for cannabis, council was also told.
Council members acknowledged his efforts but took the issue no further.
Coun. Jillian Merrick said she agreed with Greenwell's assertion that smokers are being treated like second-class citizens but had "absolutely no hesitation in supporting the bylaw" and noted the city no longer needs to pay for security guards to attend the doors at the smoking area.
Stressing she is a smoker, McConnachie spoke in favour of the restriction and said she told Greenwell as much when she spoke to him.
"I haven't met a smoker who hasn't wanted to quit and I think perhaps these new rules help in a way that they make people smoke less," she said. "It's not good for you."
