Advocates want SUMA to discuss banning smoking outdoors

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THE CANADIAN PRESS/Pawel Dwulit

REGINA Health groups at this weeks SUMA convention are calling on municipal leaders to take a stronger stance against smoking.

The Lung Association of Saskatchewan, Heart and Stroke Foundation and Canadian Cancer Society are all calling on Saskatchewan cities to ban smoking in public outdoor places, including childrens playgrounds, sports fields, festivals and concerts and patios at restaurants and bars.

They cite overwhelming public support.

The numbers are extremely high, up into the 90s for support, especially for playgrounds, said Jennifer Miller of the Lung Association. We actually have fallen behind. There are actually many municipalities across the country whove adopted these outdoor public space policies.

However, theres only one city in Saskatchewan Saskatoon banned smoking on patios in 2004, but 10 years later, no one else has followed suit.

Theyve actually come out in a study for protecting the public against second hand smoke as #1 , where Regina ranked #16, said Miller.

Despite those findings, tighter smoking bans are not on the radar in the queen city.

The City of Regina is not looking at that right now. It doesnt mean we wont do that, but its certainly not on the agenda for SUMA at this convention, said Regina mayor, Michael Fougere.

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Advocates want SUMA to discuss banning smoking outdoors