Toronto to look at expanding outdoor smoking ban now aimed at playgrounds

David Rider Urban Affairs Bureau Chief

The City of Toronto has fallen behind other municipalities in banning smoking where people gather outdoors and will consider new options this year, says the chair of Torontos Board of Health.

Councillor John Filion was reacting to a Star story noting that the Lake Simcoe community of Georgina is poised to ban smoking on beaches, in parks and on trails.

The town is among more than 50 Ontario municipalities pushing the indoor-focused 2006 Smoke-Free Ontario law to the outdoors.

Come April, Ottawa will ban smoking at all outdoor restaurant and bar patios, city-owned parks, playgrounds, beaches, sports fields and fruit and vegetable markets. Hamilton will follow suit in May, with a smoking ban on all city-owned property used for recreational purposes.

Toronto led the charge to ban smoking in workplaces, restaurants and bars, and in 2009 expanded the prohibition to within nine metres of city playgrounds, splash pads and wading pools.

I think (expanding the outdoor ban) is certainly something we should seriously consider, Filion said in an interview Thursday.

We were leaders in banning smoking and it seems weve fallen behind a bit, and thats fine, but we need to keep moving in the right direction.

We would need public support and the support of the board of health and city council, but I think theres an appetite for a reasonable extension of the ban.

Filion wouldnt suggest possible places to outlaw smoking, saying he didnt want to prejudge a city staff report with options that he expects to see later this year.

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Toronto to look at expanding outdoor smoking ban now aimed at playgrounds