Oshry’s no-smoking push impractical, report says
Groups organizing outdoor events on city property should only allow smoking in designated areas, Coun. Michael Oshry says.
He made a motion when council banned smoking in Churchill Square last October to look at options for preventing people from lighting up at all city parks, recreation facilities and attractions.
But a report released Thursday said such a move would have a “significant” impact on management of these sites.
“With around 920 park spaces, enforcement would not likely be feasible or practical.”
It would be better to instead target the 720 events held with permits annually on city property, Oshry said.
“If there’s an event at a park or any city-owned infrastructure outdoors where there’s lots of people gathered, the policy would be those are non-smoking with designated smoking areas,” he said.
“To promote healthy living in a healthy city, we want to have all events predominantly nonsmoking.”
Last year, 147 complaints about smoking were made to 311, two related to Churchill Square and eight regarding facilities, attractions, parks or recreation space, the report says.
“The concern for me was about a family out doing some activity, or anybody else outside, and being disrupted by someone walking around smoking right where you are,” Oshry said.
“The onus should not be on the non-smoker to move somewhere else at an event, or asking someone to put it out … The onus should be on the smokers.”
The issue will be discussed Monday by council’s community services committee.
Edmonton introduced a $250 fine in 2012 for smoking within 10 metres of playgrounds, playing fields, skate parks and spray parks.