Aurora mom applauds smoking ban on town-owned property

New bylaw prohibits smoking, vaping tobacco and cannabis at parks, trails

Yorkregion.com
December 6, 2019
Lisa Queen

When Aurora single mom Jessica MacDonald takes her four kids on outings to town parks, trails and events, she often wonders about the harm second-hand smoke is having on her youngsters.

While she doesn’t want any of her children--Jazmyne, 12, Emilie, 10, Xavier, 7, and Zayden, 5 -- breathing in tobacco or cannabis smoke, she is particularly concerned about Emilie because she suffers from asthma.

That’s why MacDonald, who also has asthma, is applauding the town for passing a new smoking bylaw, although she does have some concerns.

“For sure, it’s a great idea,” said MacDonald, who works as a crossing guard.

“It’s not really fair on kids to have to walk on trails and smell (smoke) when there really is nowhere else to go. If you are walking a trail, you have no way out to get away from it.”

On Nov. 12, council approved the bylaw, which bans smoking on town property, including at the town hall, community centres, parks, playgrounds, public sports fields and trails.

While the provincial government’s Smoke Free Ontario Act already prohibits smoking at some of those areas such as playgrounds, sports fields and community centres -- as well as other public places such as restaurant patios, hospitals and schools -- the bylaw’s biggest impact will be banning smoking in town parks, trails and near community centres, the town’s manager of corporate communications, Stephanie Mackenzie-Smith, said

The bylaw defines smoking as holding or carrying a lit cigarette, cigar, pipe, e-cigarette, electronic vaporizer or any other lit, heated or otherwise activated smoking or vaporizing equipment that contains tobacco, cannabis or other substance.

Anyone found violating the bylaw faces a fine of between $100 and $5,000 on their first conviction. Subsequent convictions could result in fines between $250 and $10,000.

The bylaw does not ban smoking on sidewalks or roads as they are covered under the provincial Highway Traffic Act.

That worries MacDonald, who was upset children watching the Nov. 23 Santa Claus parade were subjected to second-hand smoke.

“I literally watched a guy with his young child, who was probably three or four years old, walking down the street smoking a joint,” she said.

“Something needs to come of that, with kids around. When there’s an event put on by the town like the parade, because that’s not on town property fully, there should be something put into play there.”

MacDonald, who wonders why it has taken council so long to adopt the smoking bylaw, is also concerned how stringently the bylaw will be enforced.

“Things aren’t enforced (under provincial legislation) now. If they can’t enforce things now, how are they going to enforce more?” she said.

A question about the bylaw posted by The Banner on the Aurora What’s Happening Facebook page generated a lot of discussion.

“I can understand not smoking where there’s children around (parks, schools etc.) but other than that, good luck telling folks they can’t smoke in public, it will never fly,” Chrissy Barbe said.

Ashley Perry said it’s “absolutely stupid” to ban smoking in public places because it should come down to smokers showing common courtesy.

“But I know that me personally am very caring about where and when I smoke. I'm careful not to blow smoke out around people and move far enough away to have one and then return. I shouldn't be ‘banned’ from public places or events just because I smoke. That’s ludicrous,” Perry said.

Scott Anderson argued most people aren’t out to stop smokers exercising their legal right to smoke.

“However, the right to breathe fresh air should always outweigh the right to smoke in public areas. Smoke goes wherever the wind blows and non-smokers do not want to catch a whiff of it at all, as is their right,” he said.

“You may not realize as a smoker how sensitive to the smell non-smokers are. I can smell it on people's clothes when they are not smoking. It's a matter of consideration for others, especially when there might be kids in those public places.”

For more information about the bylaw, visit aurora.ca/bylaws