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City gives initial approval to smoking, vaping bylaw

City council passed the first two readings of its new smoke- and vaping-free places bylaw, pushing it to the next phase for a public hearing. The bylaw would be a first for the city, which didn't have any rules restricting smoking on city property.
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City council passed the first two readings of its new smoke- and vaping-free places bylaw, pushing it to the next phase for a public hearing.

The bylaw would be a first for the city, which didn't have any rules restricting smoking on city property. The policy proposes a ban on smoking of all types - including e-cigarettes - within six metres of all civic spaces, including parks, fields and bus stops.

It's the culmination of "extensive outreach efforts" between September and November last year, which brought in 584 responses to an online survey after staff promoted the call for feedback at Cougars games, door-to-door calls, conversations at Talktober and consultations with the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Prince George Business Association.

Almost 70 per cent "responded favourably" to the idea of expanding smoke-free spaces the report said, with people often pointing to health protection and promotion. But that dropped to 55 per cent when the same respondents considered e-cigarette-free spaces.

"Those opposed to the proposed bylaw cited concerns about vaping restrictions, enforcement, unfair targeting of smokers and suggested other city initiatives were of greater priority," said Chris Bone, the city's social Development manager, in a presentation.

Most of the respondents - 81 per cent - said they were non-smokers.

The draft bylaw was given to council just over a year ago, but it was delayed while the province approved the B.C. Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act.

Bone said it would work under the umbrella of the existing provincial act, but the city bylaw is more about regulating public spaces. After the act came into play, in September, the city adjusted the proposed perimeter where people couldn't smoke from nine metres to six. Before this, the city had no rules around buffer zones.

The rules will cover "open space areas" and apply to all land held by the city.

The rule change will likely create "a period of angst within the community," the report warns, but adds residents "usually try and comply as much as possible."

Prince George will be a late-adopter of the policy, if it passes, as 68 B.C. communities have some form of a smoke free outdoor places bylaw. However, 125 communities in B.C. have yet to put an anti-smoking bylaw in place.

Coun. Brian Skakun questioned paying $68,000 on 456 signs to pair with this bylaw.

"Do we have to spend that much?"

"We are considered the responsible party," replied Bone, but added the amount - an estimated $150 per sign for design and installation - was meant as an estimate and there may be some "wiggle room."

Other municipalities spent a wide range on signs to promote similar bylaws, she said, starting at as little as $200.

The shift shouldn't mean the department will feel pressure to hire new staff to follow through with complaints, said Bone, pointing to research out of the University of Waterloo that looked at B.C. municipalities and found only one hired new workers. Instead, the city's focus should be on public education and self-regulation.

With so many affected by cancer and its connection to smoking, Coun. Albert Koehler praised the bylaw for expected health benefits to the population.

"We actually have a responsibility to somehow do something about it."

The public hearing on the bylaw is scheduled for Dec. 5.