Tobacco is being banned from all indoor and outdoor recreation and sports facilities in Charlottetown.
City council approved the changes Monday night. The new policy will go into effect Jan. 1, 2009.
The changes mean it will be illegal to smoke or use spit tobacco, including snuff, chew or plug, at any of the capital city's community centres, sports fields and courts, parks and playgrounds, arenas and swimming pools.
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Tobacco-free policy
The City of Charlottetown is adopting a new tobacco-free policy for indoor and outdoor recreation and sports facilities.
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The city says it will not allow tobacco products to be used or sold in any of the administrative offices, club rooms, change rooms or washrooms, food courts, indoor and outdoor spectator viewing areas as well as within the perimeter of all facilities, including parking lots and grounds.
Mitchell Tweel, the councillor who pushed forward the resolution banning tobacco, says it's the right thing to do. He described it as a "progressive" step forward.
"Second-hand smoke is a major concern," said Tweel. "I think this is a huge step forward and I look forward to the co-operation of all spectators that attend all of our facilities. We ask sincerely for their co-operation."
Charlottetown joins a growing list of Island communities with similar tobacco-free policies.
The Town of Stratford was a leader in P.E.I., putting its tobacco-free policy in place Oct. 1, 2007. Summerside, Tignish and Borden-Carleton are some of the other Island communities who have adopted similar laws.
During city council Monday, Tweel was asked how the new law was going to be policed.
Tweel said the city is going to take an educational approach, as opposed to an adversarial one. He said the city will assume that somebody using tobacco where they are not supposed to be is simply unaware of the tobacco-free policy. The city will display signage where appropriate as well as support initiatives that promote awareness to the public of the dangers of tobacco products.
"People will eventually start policing it themselves," he said.
Rob Lantz, another Charlottetown city councillor, wanted to know if that means this year's Jack Frost Festival at Confederation Landing Park will be tobacco-free. He said last year he saw a handful of people smoking on the grounds and in one case blowing second-hand smoke near his children.
Lantz said that should change.
"I do recall standing around some facilities, tents, and snow sculptures at last year's Jack Frost Festival where people were standing there blowing smoke in my kids' face," said Lantz.
Tweel said Confederation Landing does fall under the new policy which means next year's Jack Frost Festival, as well as any other event held at the waterfront, will be tobacco-free.
"My answer is yes," he said. "It is a family event. Jack Frost will be tobacco-free."
Other City Council business conducted at the November monthly meeting is displayed in the map below.
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