A dozen years ago a commanding voice made an impassioned plea at county council to curb smoking in public places like restaurants and work places.
At the time municipal governments across Ontario were taking the lead on the issue of smoking. Like dominoes, many joined the chorus to stop smoking, creating a firestorm the province could no longer ignore. It then became law that smoking was outlawed in most buildings where the public worked or were served.
This may well be the greatest accomplishment of Bob Wilson, county councillor from old West Garafraxa township. As a member of local health unit at the time, he was more than familiar with statistics that pointed to the downside of smoking.
While getting ready to write this editorial, we had occasion to tell our young reporters about days past when the shop floor at work was a haze of smoke. It’s incredible really, when you look back at the insanity of those days – overflowing ashtrays and paper at the ready to start a blaze.
Of course our old Drayton office was not the only workplace with such a setup; offices, shops, airplanes, movie theatres, restaurants, bowling alleys – there were few places to escape the smell of tobacco.
Most of us have gladly accepted that those days are over. There are still those who choose to smoke in their homes or in their cars. While we cannot endorse that, as long as the province deems tobacco as a legal substance and takes its cut of tax money, there is little to be said on these personal choices.
Both Wellington and Dufferin counties have been sent a recommendation from Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health that consideration be given to start the conversation on smoking in multi-unit buildings.
We note that some municipalities have already gone to lengths to limit smoking in public spaces. If a person has been to a park or public venue lately, chances are smoking areas have been dismantled.
If the public has now accepted that smoking in the open air is discouraged, surely it is time to discuss multi-unit residential structures that hold captive the young and old who have no choice currently but to accept second-hand smoke.
Just as 2003 was a watershed year for a new approach to public health and second hand-smoke, it’s high time for a similar conversation as it relates to multi-unit dwellings.
