All Enclosed Workplaces and Enclosed Public Places In Ontario To Be Smoke-Free
Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed workplaces and enclosed public places across Ontario as of May 31, 2006.
“This legislation makes us a leader in North America, creating safer, smoke-free work environments and supporting our efforts to prevent young people from starting to smoke,” Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson said. “This legislation is both comprehensive and fair. It gives municipalities and businesses what they asked for with regard to tougher province wide standards, and reflects the efforts of those who have worked to create a smoke-free Ontario.”
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act:
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Bans smoking in enclosed public places and all enclosed workplaces as of May 31, 2006, including restaurants, bars, schools, private clubs, sports arenas, work vehicles, offices and entertainment venues, including casinos, bingo halls, bowling and billiard establishments
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Eliminates designated smoking rooms (DSRs) in restaurants and bars, permits residential care facilities to operate controlled smoking areas which are specially designed to ensure nobody outside the room is exposed to second-hand smoke
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Protects home health care workers from second-hand smoke when offering services in private residences
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Prohibits smoking on patios that have food and beverage service if they are either partially or completely covered by a roof
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Toughens the rules prohibiting tobacco sales to minors
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Prevents the promotion of tobacco products in entertainment venues
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Immediately restricts the retail promotion of tobacco products and impose a complete ban on the display of tobacco products by May 31, 2008
Tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable disease and death in Ontario, killing 16,000 Ontarians every year. Tobacco-related diseases cost the Ontario economy at least $1.7 billion for health care annually, result in more than $2.6 billion in productivity losses and account for at least 500,000 hospital days each year.
The public may also obtain information on the Smoke-Free Ontario Act by calling: