Pubdate: Thu, 05 Nov 2015
Source: Parksville Qualicum Beach News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Black Press
Contact:  http://www.pqbnews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1361
Author: John Harding

Smoking in Parksville's Public Parks

POT BRINGING ISSUE TO LIGHT

City Behind Others in Region in Its Bylaws Related to Public Smoking

Coun. Al Greir says residents complained to him all summer about 
people smoking - both cigarettes and marijuana - in Parksville's public parks.

Grier said this week the election of the federal Liberals and their 
promises to loosen the laws around marijuana should have the city 
looking more closely at fines for those caught smoking in city parks, 
"especially those smoking marijuana."

"Maybe marijuana will be legalized and we will have more and more 
smokers of marijuana in the park," Greir said near the end of a 
council meeting on Monday night.

Mayor Marc Lefebvre said he was recently in contact with Dr. Paul 
Hasselback, Island Health's medical health officer for the central Island area.

"He is going to recommend we ban smoking in all public parks," said Lefebvre.

In April, the mayor didn't seem to think this was a pressing issue 
for the city.

"My initial reaction is that I don't think it's a problem," Lefebvre 
told The NEWS when asked if the city could benefit from a more 
stringent ban on smoking. "I have not been told ever, ever, ever that 
'Hey someone is smoking too much in here.'"

In that April story, Hasselback called Parksville "an anomaly" for 
its lack of local regulation around cigarette smoke.

"Qualicum Beach and Nanaimo have some of the better (smoking) bylaws 
on the Island and they implemented those bylaws years ago... 
Parksville sits in the centre and hasn't addressed this issue at all," he said.

Hasselback also said Island Health sent the City of Parksville a 
letter in early 2015 suggesting it consider a bylaw that would 
harmonize smoking regulations on Vancouver Island.

He confirmed that on Wednesday and reiterated his comments from 
earlier this year.

"Yes, Parksville should be doing something," said Hasselback. "We 
have had conversations."

Hasselback also said amendments to the provincial Tobacco Control Act 
- - which has passed third reading in the Legislature - might provide 
clarity on the issue for municipalities like Parksville.

At the city council meeting Monday night, Greir questionned the 
effectiveness of any non-smoking bylaw the city would pass, in terms 
of the availability of bylaw officers.

"I know that if we put a bylaw through we won't be able to enforce 
it," said Greir.

Lefebvre said imposing some fines would be better than imposing none. 
"We don't always catch all the people who speed, but when we do catch 
them they are fined," said the mayor.

- - with files from Candace Wu
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom