Minister Ottenheimer confirmed government’s intention to proceed with legislation to create 100 per cent smoke-free indoor environments as early as the spring of this year (2005). The process will begin with province-wide consultations that run until mid-February, 2005. The consultations will give individuals and organizations an opportunity to:

1. provide input to government on the target dates for implementing the province-wide ban; and
2. provide their view on the approach government should use to achieve 100% smoke-free indoor environments.

Minister Ottenheimer stated "clearly we are moving forward with a smoking ban and the public consultations will allow individuals and organizations to give us input as to how best to achieve a smoke-free environment."

The smoking ban announced by the Minister is one component of the Newfoundland and Labrador Tobacco Reduction Strategy. Released on November 30, 1999, the Strategy is modeled after the National Tobacco Reduction Strategy, with goals and directions closely aligned. The four (4) main goals of the strategy are prevention, protection, cessation and denormalization. The strategic directions to support the goals include:

• Education and Communication 
• Legislation 
• Enforcement 
• Community Support Programs
• Compensation 
• Research 

Another initiative, the Teen Tobacco Team, is part of the overall strategy to reduce tobacco use in this province. The Teen Tobacco Team, made up of youth representing all regions across the province, assists in the development of policy, programs, and educational initiatives aimed at youth tobacco use.

The Smoke-free Environment Act (SFEA), which came into force in June of 1994 after receiving Royal Assent in December of 1993, restricts or prohibits smoking in public places and workplaces. The goal of the Act is to reduce the exposure that people have to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). A reduction in ETS will lead to healthier indoor environments, reduced disease caused by exposure to ETS and reduced health care costs arising from the treatment of disease.

The health effects of exposure to ETS are significant, well known and well documented. ETS is known to cause lung cancer, stroke, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and respiratory disease. Listed below are a number of facts about exposure to ETS.

• An estimated 4,700 - 7,000 non-smoking Canadians die every year from diseases caused by exposure to ETS. This number includes up to 112 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

• Food service workers working in smoking environments have a 50% higher rate of lung cancer than the general population.

• Regular exposure to second-hand smoke increases the chances of contracting lung disease by 25% and heart disease by 10%.

• Second-hand smoke aggravates symptoms in people with allergies and asthma, and can cause eye, nose and throat irritations, headaches, dizziness, nausea, coughing and wheezing in otherwise healthy people.

• Infants and children exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to suffer chronic respiratory illness, impaired lung function, middle ear infections, food allergies and can even succumb to sudden infant death syndrome.

The Report The Cost of Tobacco in Newfoundland and Labrador and The Economics of Tobacco Control and Smoke-Free Places prepared by GPI Atlantic in the spring of 2003 provided the following tobacco related data:

• Annually, ETS causes 112 deaths; 1624 potential years of life lost; 784 hospitalizations; and 8400 hospital days.

• ETS costs the province $11.9 million a year in direct health costs plus $34 million a year in productivity losses.

• Implementing smoke-free public places and workplaces can save 220 lives a year in our province.

The plan used since 1994 to reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in Newfoundland and Labrador has been incremental. In 1994 smoking was banned in public places such as day cares, schools, taxis, hospitals, retail stores, and recreational facilities. From 1994 to 2002 public places, such as food establishments, bars and bingo halls, and workplaces could allow smoking in designated smoking areas or rooms. In 2002, through an amendment to the Smoke-free Environment Act, smoking was banned in food establishments, shopping malls, transportation terminals, hotel/motel common areas, games arcades, public libraries and boys and girls clubs.

The 2002 amendment defined those food establishments and public places frequented by children and youth, where the use of tobacco products was no longer permitted. Food establishments affected by the ban were identified depending on whether or not they possess a liquor license and the category of licence under which they operate, pursuant to the Liquor Licensing Regulations.

The next step in the incremental approach to reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is to eliminate smoking in bars, bingo halls, all food establishments and all other indoor public places. Since 2002 smoking has been permitted in designated smoking areas of bars, bingo halls, some food establishments, some public places (e.g., long term care facilities and psychiatric facilities) and workplaces.

Currently three provinces and two territories have banned smoking 100% in bars and restaurants. A third province announced late in 2004 that they would proceed with a smoking ban for all public places and workplaces. Three other provinces have banned smoking in bars and restaurants but allow smoking to occur in designated smoking rooms (DSRs). The table below provides an overview of the smoking bans/restrictions in the provinces and territories of Canada and a selection of Canadian municipalities.

Table 1: Smoking Bans/Restrictions in Other Provinces, Territories and Municipalities

The public consultations on the implementation of the smoking ban will end on February 25, 2005. Between now and February 25, 2005 there are several options available to you to participate in the public consultations. The options are:

1. Internet                               (Deadline for submissions is February 25, 2005)
   
   This discussion document, which poses a number of questions and provides an opportunity for you to provide general comments, has been posted on the website of the Department of Health and Community Services. The website address is http://www.gov.nl.ca/health/banonsmoking/discussion.asp

   Answers to the questions and any additional comments you have can be provided directly to the Department using the features of the website. All submissions are anonymous. However, space is available to identify yourself/your group, if you wish.

    

2. Written Submission              (Deadline for submissions is February 25, 2005)
   
   The discussion document and questions can be viewed and downloaded from the Department’s website  at http://www.gov.nl.ca/health/banonsmoking/discussion.pdf
   
   You can mail or fax written responses to questions and any additional comments you have to:
   
   

   ETS Consultation
   Department of Health and Community Services
   P.O. Box 8700
   St. John's, NL A1B 4J6
   
   
3. Email                                     (Deadline for submissions is February 25, 2005)
   
   After reviewing the discussion document, answers to questions and other comments you may have can be forwarded to the Department by Email at ets@gov.nl.ca
   Please place " ETS Consult" in the subject line of your Email message.
   


4. Public Meetings
   
   During February 2005 six public meetings have been scheduled to give the general public and interested groups/organization an opportunity to present their comments to government on the smoking ban. In order to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to provide their comments on the smoking ban, the following format will be used for the public meetings.
   

Public Meeting Dates and Locations