Those finding it hard to kick the habit may soon find it’s harder yet to find a place to smoke.
A new report by Toronto’s medical officer of health is recommending that smoking be banned in a variety of new places. The list includes public squares, restaurants and patios, hospital grounds, park amenities, swimming beaches, outdoor sports fields, and entrances and exits to public buildings.
"Research evidence shows that building entrances and exits can receive high concentrations of outdoor tobacco smoke which are difficult to avoid by non-smokers who need to pass through the area," Dr. David McKeown says in the report, which will be considered at a Board of Health meeting later this month. "Currently, the only building entrances and exits where smoking is prohibited … are those at hospitals, psychiatric facilities and long-term care homes."
The report comes about a year after Toronto Public Health asked the board to look at ways to further protect people from second-hand smoke in outdoor public spaces. It was put together with input from various stakeholder groups, including hospitals, universities, property managers and restaurant and bar owners.
In 2006, provincial legislation made it illegal to smoke in all enclosed work spaces and public places in the province, as well as on school property and in vehicles carrying children. The same legislation made it illegal to smoke on covered restaurant or bar patios and within nine metres of entrances and exits to public buildings.
Three years later, Toronto council passed bylaws that also made it illegal to smoke near playgrounds, splash pads and zoos.
The new report will be considered at a Board of Health meeting on Sept. 30. The board will then pass their recommendation on to city council for consideration.
A separate report aimed at banning smoking in park spaces is set to be considered Oct. 23 at the Parks and Environment Committee.
The report also calls on Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Deb Matthews to tighten provincial smoking laws on hospital grounds and all uncovered bar and restaurant patios.
If the recommendations eventually pas through council, it would be up to Toronto Public Health to enforce the new rules, the report says.
