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Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Ottawa Public Health
Board of Health approves Smoke-Free Ottawa Strategy

Ottawa - The Ottawa Board of Health has approved recommendations from the Medical Officer of Health for a renewed strategy for a smoke-free Ottawa and forwarded proposals to City Council for the expansion of the City’s smoke-free regulations. The strategy is designed to protect children and non-smokers from second hand smoke, while reducing smoking rates through increased cessation programming, advocacy and public awareness.

The Board’s approval of the renewed strategy includes a recommendation that the City of Ottawa expand its smoke-free regulations to include municipal properties, including parks and beaches, and bar and restaurant patios. The regulatory recommendations will be discussed at the City’s Community and Protective Services Committee on February 15, and, if accepted by the committee, City Council on February 22.

“The strategy approved by the Board will continue Ottawa’s leadership on smoking, by making more spaces where we live smoke-free,” said Councillor Diane Holmes, Chair of the Board of Health. “We are keen to see all recommendations fully approved by City Council and I am especially eager to enjoy Ottawa’s first smoke-free patio and park season this summer.”

The renewed strategy, which will not require more funding, for a smoke-free Ottawa recommends:

Increasing cessation services and programs for all residents, including priority populations with high smoking rates;
Expanding Ottawa’s smoke-free regulations to make all municipal properties, including parks and beaches, and bar and restaurant patios smoke-free. These recommendations require the approval of City Council; and
Implementing public education campaigns and a community engagement strategy to decrease the number of youth who start smoking, to increase awareness of the dangers of tobacco smoke and to create more smoke-free spaces.

This joint initiative between Ottawa Public Health and By-law and Regulatory Services, in consultation with other City departments, includes increased programming for people who want to quit; new smoke-free regulations to protect residents from second-hand smoke and a public awareness and community engagement strategy designed to make Ottawa a healthier city for all.

As part of the recommendations, the Board of Health will now advocate to the provincial and federal governments to strengthen current legislation that exist for regulating water-pipe products.

“The Board is calling on the provincial and federal governments to make changes to the law that will assist Ottawa and other municipalities in regulating the use of hookah pipes and products,” said Dr. Isra Levy, Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health.

The Board approved two recommendations to address deficiencies that currently exist in respect of the regulation of water-pipes under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA). These include recommending that the Board of Health advocate that the SFOA and regulations be amended to prohibit the smoking of other weeds or substances such that the smoking of water-pipe products would be included and that the SFOA and regulations could be amended to provide Tobacco Enforcement Officers with the authority to search, seize and test product when conducting inspections.

For more information about smoking cessation programs and tools, visit ottawa.ca/quitsmoking or call 613-580-6744 (TTY: 613-580-9656). You can also connect with OPH on Facebook and href=http://twitter.com/ottawahealth>Twitter (@ottawahealth) for the latest public health information.