Smoking ban on patios sought

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

By: Jessica Botelho-Urbanski and Bartley Kives

Posted: 06/26/2014 1:00 AM | Comments:

SARAH TAYLOR / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image

Radoslav Drandarewski enjoys a cigarette on the patio at Saffron's Wednesday. That could end if the city has its way. Photo Store

City council would like to kick butts off Winnipeg patios -- but it's unclear when or even if an outdoor smoking ban will happen.

In an unexpected move Wednesday, council approved a plan to ask provincial health authorities to investigate the idea of banning smoking on outdoor patios.

Couns. Paula Havixbeck (Charleswood-Tuxedo) and Dan Vandal (St. Boniface) had only hatched the plan in the morning, when they authored a motion to encourage the provincial government to consider including outdoor patios in the list of prohibited smoking locations under the Non-Smokers Health Protection Act.

The idea was expected to wind up at council's executive policy committee in July. But after Mayor Sam Katz pushed to debate the plan right away, council voted 14-2 in favour of the idea, with Couns. Justin Swandel (St. Norbert) and Ross Eadie (Mynarski) voting against it.

"I've listened to doctors talk about the tragic results of second-hand smoke," Katz said following the meeting. Katz said he believes smokers have rights, "but I think you would also defend the rights of people who do not want to be impacted."

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Smoking ban on patios sought