Nova Scotia Becomes Canada's 9th Smokefree Province/Territory

By Joseph W. Cherner

Law includes outdoor areas of bars and restaurants

CANADA, 11/7/05-- Last week, the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly gave Third Reading and final approval to the Smoke-free Places Act. The bill, which requires all workplaces (including restaurants and bars) to be smokefree, had all-party support.

Nova Scotia thus becomes Canada's ninth smokefree province/territory (out of thirteen total). Note that the laws in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland also extend to the outdoor areas of bars and restaurants. Here is a list all nine smokefree provinces/territories (with implementation dates):

1. Northwest Territories (May 1, 2004)
2. Nunavut Territory (May 1, 2004)
3. New Brunswick (Oct. 1, 2004)
4. Manitoba (Oct. 1, 2004)
5. Saskatchewan (Jan. 1, 2005)
6. Newfoundland and Labrador (July 1, 2005)
7. Ontario (May 31, 2006)
8. Quebec (May 31, 2006)
9. Nova Scotia (Dec. 1, 2006)

Canada's remaining four provinces/territories have weaker smokefree workplace laws as follows:
British Columbia - (smokefree, except in designated smoking rooms)
P.E.I. - (smokefree, except in designated smoking rooms)
Alberta - (smokefree where kids are allowed, effective Jan. 1, 2006)
Yukon - (no law currently exists; the Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board is considering a territorial standard)

Thanks to Rob Cunningham of the Canadian Cancer Society for the above information.

To win smokefree air where you live, go to http://www.smokefree.net/alerts.php

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