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Jason Weppler, Health Promoter of the Grey Bruce Health Unit,
presented a proposal to Town Council to encourage the new Tobacco
Free Sports initiative.
"The idea," explained Weppler, "is that parents and/or anyone
involved in minor sports should not be smoking anywhere near that
sport. It is a contradiction of a healthy lifestyle."
The initiative also wants Council to implement a policy addressing
the matter. "There are six reasons for a policy," he said. "One, to
prevent youth from starting to use tobacco products, two, to give
all children the chance to perform at their very best, three, to
protect the environment and tobacco products are the number one when
it comes to litter and it takes 15 years for a cigarette butt to
break down, four, to protect others from second-hand smoke, five, to
create a tobacco-free culture and six, to help those trying to
quit."
Weppler pointed out that Collingwood has, in fact, passed a
smoke-free by-law in all parks and anywhere that has playground
equipment. Woodstock has done the same within 30 meters of a
playground equipment and Owen Sound supports it for parks, sports
fields and specified distances from arenas and recreational
facilities.
"There is limited funding available for signage," he said. "We
provided $1600 to Owen Sound and there would be the same amount
available for this community, but it has to be used by the end of
this year."
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Councilor Victoria Serda agreed that it it's necessary to
provide a healthy image. "I personally am in favour with
this initiative."
Councilor Taun Frosst, a professed smoker, questioned
whether there was a dollar value. "It would be very
difficult to enforce such a by-law. I would be more in
favour of education rather than a fine."
"It's really about peer pressure," added Councilor Luke
Charbonneau. "I think the public is already on-side with
this issue."
Weppler agreed but pointed out that there is a wide
discrepancy when it comes to distances.
Vice Deputy Mayor, Doug Gowanlock, said that he is always
reluctant to pass by-laws that then have to be enforced. "I
think signage would do the job and I would be in favour of
that."
The initiative is to be considered.
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