ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[Coke6pk]

Before we go off and blame the hospitals, they don't have smoking structures because the Smoke Free Ontario Act prohibits (a) Smoking within 9m of any entrance or exit of a hospital and (b) Smoking on the outdoor grounds of a hospital. 

The province banned smoking on hospital property (and within 9m of the doors if it abuts public property), and the hospitals are being compliant with the law.  No different than when the province banned smoking on school property.  [Or when they banned smoking in malls, or when the Fed's banned smoking on planes]

As for smoking in bus shelters, this is handled by the Regional By-Law Enforcement and Regulatory Services branch.  I believe they have two full time Tobacco officers who deal with not only the Regional By-Law, but the SFOA.

Coke

The “within 9m” part is perfectly reasonable. My only quibble is that the line should be painted on the ground so one has something to point to when telling somebody they are too close.

The “on the outdoor grounds of a hospital” part is unreasonable to the extent that it prohibits the hospital from even establishing a specific place, appropriately sited with proper facilities provided (shelter, butt disposal).

If I were running a hospital I would transfer the smoking shelter area to a separate entity so that it would not technically be owned by the hospital any more and therefore not technically be part of the grounds of the hospital. Of course I would plan the location carefully to keep the nauseating fumes away from everybody else.

Hmmm, what about a bus shelter structure with a door? It’s not the hospital building but it’s also not “outside”?

I'm not arguing the merits of the law, just stating it's not the hospitals fault.   Why didn't the school board go out and find loopholes in the law so that students didn't ashtray up the sidewalk?  As a health care provider, I'm sure they were not going to go above and beyond to test the limits of an anti-smoking law.

There were many establishments that thought our Regional by-law would fail, and spent thousands of dollars in creating "covered patios" which were still deemed to be part of the non-smoking portion of the establishment.  [My memory serves the Stampede Corral had a gap of about 1' between the solid wall and roof, and therefore was determined to be indoors, and patrons were charged smoking there.  Even the establishments that reached out to us (Yup, I was a Regional Tobacco By-Law guy in 2000-2001) were "approved" as smoking patio's, but the SFOA changed that, and that was wasted money too.

A bus shelter structure with or without a door would be treated like a building, and therefore be smoke free.

Coke

[I apologize for the smoking conversation.... we are getting a little off-track [pun intended] .... need more update pictures, STAT!]