Province Will Enforce Anti-smoking Law in HRM

Inspectors will continue to enforce the new provincial anti- smoking law (Smoke-Free Places Act) in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM).

Mayor Peter Kelly recently wrote to the province requesting a delay in full enforcement of the new law until after April 1, when HRM holds a public meeting about a possible municipal ban on smoking.

"This legislation is a cornerstone of our tobacco strategy to reduce smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke. It's one of the strongest provincial laws in the country," said Health Promotion Minister Rodney MacDonald. "We need compliance for this law to be effective. So, there will be a consistent approach to enforcement right across the province."

"We've done our level best to be fair and reasonable by allowing additional time for business owners to prepare to comply. It would simply not be fair to enforce the law everywhere in the province except HRM."

The minister wrote to Mr. Kelly today, Feb. 28, saying that until HRM reaches a decision about a bylaw, business owners in HRM will be expected to comply with the provincial law.

Government proclaimed the Smoke-Free Places Act in May 2002. In December 2002, it passed regulations, dealing mostly with ventilation standards for smoking rooms. Those regulations came into effect on Jan. 1, 2003. Because the regulations were delayed, the province gave business owners two additional months to prepare to comply.