So here we find another apparent overstep by a government (Gazette, June 23, "City crafting stricter smoking law") attempting to push rules and bylaws on a topic that none of them campaigned on. This time it's attempting to make smoking in public illegal. This is nothing more than a holier than thou move by a city council that feels they are better than those who smoke. Smokers already get treated like second class citizens.
You say that the secondhand smoke is that bad when walking outside. Really? Most smokers are now very respectful as to stand away from others in parks and trails. By the way smoking is not illegal if you are over 18. Want to talk about air quality? There are thousands of vehicles driving around spewing black smoke as people walk by on sidewalks and crosswalks. Oh, and our "green" city is contemplating burning trash! The fact that in one breath they want to criminalize smoking while walking along Red Willow Trail and want to burn refuse in another, is a blatantly telling us that this isn't about the smoke it's about the smoker.
I know there are health risks, as does every smoker, if it's health you are concerned with, maybe we start to limit doughnut shops and fast food joints, because St. Albert has an overabundance of these. And the rate that these are killing people and draining money on our health system is exponential. Let the city make smoking illegal and the next thing will be, is to ban wood burning fireplaces or backyard fires, as the smoke will go into your neighbour's air space.
This is about council looking down their noses at smokers, and are using the cannabis laws to hide it. If you are really concerned for the smokers, you would discuss helping them beat their addiction, not criminalize them.
John Tkachyk, St. Albert
