Council tightens restrictions for smoking in public places

Edmonton tobacco smokers will have to take five more giant steps back from the entrance to a bar or restaurant when recreational cannabis becomes legal next month.

Council passed a set of changes to its public places bylaw Tuesday that restrict smoking of any substance within 10 metres of a door, window or bus stop, up from the current five metres. That effectively bans smoking from large areas of Whyte Avenue where doors are spaced closely together.

“The cannabis smoke and the pungent nature of it will exacerbate issues,” said Edmonton branch manager David Aitken, explaining why administration recommends the greater separation distance.

The distance for smoking tobacco is being changed to ensure consistency.

The rules passed Tuesday also ban smoking in any park that has playground equipment. They are the same rules that council first passed in July, then backtracked on the next day after hearing from the public.

Mayor Don Iveson said pausing to survey the public again was the right thing to do. They ’ll review the bylaw again in late spring 2019 to see if it needs adjustment.

Coun. Ben Henderson asked council to pause and keep the fivemetre rule at least for now to avoid unintended consequences from pushing people into the street or into back alleys to smoke off Whyte Avenue.

Iveson supported that, saying a plan that kept the same distance that bouncers, customers and enforcement officers are used to “has real merit.”

But several others said they’re hearing from residents who want a complete ban on pot smoking in public. “For me, the compromise is 10 metres,” said Coun. Bev Esslinger.

That amendment failed 6-7. The current rules allow people to smoke as long as they are five metres from a door or window, and 10 metres from a children’s playground.

The new rules also ban smoking at city attractions, golf courses and ski hills.

They take affect Oct. 17.