Patio smoking ban creates blowback

TORONTO• Ontario’s proposed ban on smoking on restaurant and bar patios in addition to playgrounds and sports fields is welcomed by anti-smoking activists but not some businesses.

The Ontario Restaurant, Hotel and Motel Association says some of its members fear they will lose business if customers can no longer smoke on patios, and complains the government never consulted the industry about the change.

However, groups like the Canadian Cancer Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation applaud the proposed smoking ban on patios.

In announcing the measure Wednesday, Health Minister Deb Matthews said restaurant and bar owners know that the majority of people don’t want to be exposed to second-hand smoke on patios.

“I think they understand that this was coming,” she said. “About 70% of Ontarians actually want to ban smoking on patios because they’re people like me. I love to sit outside on a patio, but I don’t like being surrounded by smoke.”

The Ontario Restaurant, Hotel and Motel Association complained the government didn’t consult the sector before announcing the patio ban, and said there was a real “fear” among some business owners that they will lose customers, and money.

“Smokers will still go outside near the patio and they will puff cigarettes at passersby who are not expecting a puff of smoke,” said association CEO Tony Elenis. “Under the existing regulations, which we are happy with, customers and businesses make a choice.”

The New Democrats were worried the Liberals wouldn’t have the resolve to stand up to the expected opposition to the smoking ban on patios.

“You have to be ready to defend this to a lot of people who will push back, and my experience with them is when there is a push back they disappear into the woods,” said NDP health critic France Gelinas.

Ontario will also bar tobacco sales on college and university campuses, double fines for stores that sell cigarettes to minors, and will ban all sales of candy- and fruit-flavoured tobacco products, not just prohibit sales to minors.

The Canadian Cancer Society applauded Ms. Matthews for taking steps to reduce the smoking rate, noting that tobacco claims 13,000 lives in Ontario annually.

“The restrictions on the sales of tobacco and on smoking in parks and hospital grounds — and the monumental ban of smoking on all patios — will go a long way to reducing second-hand smoke exposures to workers and patrons,” said Cancer Society spokeswoman Rowena Pinto.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation said flavours are used “to seduce youth to a product that kills,” and called the Ontario government “courageous” for banning smoking on restaurant and bar patios.

“Seeing people smoke on patios and having fun, socializing with cigarettes, normalizes the behaviour and drives a false impression that this is a desirable lifestyle choice,” said foundation director Mark Holland.