Gibsons council has given third reading to its new smoking bylaw.
Ahead of the vote at the June 21 regular meeting, Town staff presented the results of an online survey. Of the 109 responses, 63 per cent felt the current provincial rules don’t go far enough, and around 67 per cent supported the proposed bylaw.
The bylaw would increase buffer zones to 7.5 metres, ban smoking in parks, at beaches and on public trails, and impose a complete ban on smoking on pub and restaurant patios.
The Town says none of the pub and restaurant owners approached for their input have responded.
The survey results also show some people feel e-cigarettes should not be included, and others have concerns about effective enforcement.
Mayor Wayne Rowe admitted that will be the tough part.
“That’s something we mentioned to the health department [Vancouver Coastal Health] in the beginning,” he said.
“We’ve got one bylaw enforcement officer. We don’t really have the capability to enforce this vigorously, but hopefully it will self-police to an extent.”
The bylaw now has to go to the Ministry of Health for approval, before it comes back to council for a final vote.
Meanwhile, Sechelt council has started the process to consider a similar bylaw in Sechelt.
At its June 15 meeting, Sechelt council referred a new draft smoking control bylaw to a future planning committee for further review and public consultation.
As it stands, the draft bylaw is similar to the one Gibsons council gave third reading to, with the exception of the distance smokers must keep from places like doors, open windows and air intakes – Sechelt’s draft bylaw states 9.5 metres.
The current smoking bylaw in Sechelt (adopted in 1991) stipulates smokers must keep three metres back from such areas.
Greg Horning, with bylaw enforcement, said Sechelt’s existing bylaw is outdated and doesn’t reflect the current trends in society for tougher smoking controls.
His report on the subject noted a beefed up smoking control bylaw would better protect citizens from second hand smoke, help with smoking cessation and support B.C.’s Tobacco Control Strategy.
Director of planning and development Andre Isakov noted staff was bringing the draft bylaw to council for information and discussion only during the June 15 meeting.
“Staff are not recommending the first reading of the bylaw at this point. We feel like it still needs some work,” Isakov said.
Coun. Darnelda Siegers noted the draft bylaw talks about a total park smoking ban but said such a ban could push smokers into residential areas.
She asked if specific areas could be designated for smoking in Sechelt, and Horning said it was possible.
Coun. Doug Wright was concerned about the cost of signage that would be needed to alert smokers to the new rules and asked for that cost to be estimated by the next time council discusses the topic.
Council then voted unanimously to send the draft bylaw to a future planning and community development committee meeting for further review and public consultation.
Coun. Darren Inkster excused himself from council chambers during the discussion, citing a possible conflict of interest.
