Toronto health board moves toward restaurant patio smoking ban

The City of Toronto is a big step closer to banning smoking on restaurant and bar patios, as well as public squares, the butt-littered entranceways to public buildings and all hospital grounds.

The health board voted unanimously Monday to launch consultations on extending the current ban for the first time since 2009, when areas around city playgrounds, splash pads and wading pools were added to the no-puff list.

Councillor John Filion, chair of the health board, said he hopes consultations with the public, restaurant and bar owners and others can wrap up by the end of the year, and will help produce recommendations for council in 2013.

But Filion (Ward 23, Willowdale) called restaurateurs worries that a patio ban will hurt their businesses not a credible argument. He made it clear that, no matter the feedback, his board will push council to expand the ban.

There is very broad public support for going further than we have, he told reporters. I dont think theres much doubt that the board of health will adopt some new measures; its just which those are, how soon they take effect, what are the exact parameters.

Dr. David McKeown, the citys medical officer of health, said diners and restaurant staff get unhealthy doses of second-hand smoke on patios, while clusters of smokers normalize tobacco use and influence teens who might start smoking and smokers who would like to quit.

Wayne Williams said on the patio of a downtown Jack Astors that such a ban would not bother him.

Im a smoker, but I dont mind that because it imposes on people, said Williams, 52, who would cross the street to puff. Its a bad habit Im an anti-smoker even though I smoke.

But outside Bier Markt on The Esplanade, 30-year smoker Shahab Gonbadi, 45, asked: Are they going to tell us that we cant smoke in our homes next?

Its outdoors, and they can split the patio into a smoking and non-smoking section if they want to do anything.

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Toronto health board moves toward restaurant patio smoking ban